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Call 3: Blood Alcohol Tests Put To The Test

Consumer Products Tested Against CHP Monitor

POSTED: 4:02 pm PST December 31, 2003
UPDATED: 5:28 pm PST December 31, 2003

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the California Highway Patrol say drinking any alcohol is too much to get behind the wheel. But there are consumer products on the market that check blood alcohol content to promote safe driving. Call 3 put three of them to the test.

The products tested were Alco Pro's Alco-Screen 2, a saliva test; Alcohol Test Package, which uses a breath tube; and Alc-Alert, which uses gas sensor technology.

All three were put up against the CHP's blood alcohol monitor to find out if the products' readings would be accurate.

"The consumer tests often times could give a false sense of security. You can be arrested with as little as one drink in your system ... alcohol affects people in different ways," CHP spokesman Ted Montez said.

Call 3 used two testers, Marni and Jeff.

Marni had four drinks while Jeff downed six.

The Alco strips were tested first. A discolored line indicates alcohol greater than .02 percent. Both got a colored line.

Next was the Alcohol Test Package, which estimates blood alcohol content. The readings for both showed levels over the legal limit of .08.

The Alc-Alert test showed Marni at .12 and Jeff at .08 -- both over the legal limit.

Next Jeff and Marni took the CHP test.

Marni blew a .167 and Jeff a .119 -- both well over the legal limit.

Call 3's tests showed that the consumer products do detect alcohol in the bloodstream, but not as accurately as the CHP monitor and should not be relied on solely to determine if someone is safe to drive.

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