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How Body Temperature Changes Breathalyzer Results

By Lawrence Taylor

As I have said in earlier posts, law enforcement investigation techniques depend largely upon the fictitious premise that all humans are physiologically identical (see 'Convicting the Average DUI Suspect"). Without that presumption, field sobriety and breath alcohol tests would not be possible. I have previously discussed many examples of physiological differences — from person to person and within one person from moment to moment — which will directly alter breath or blood alcohol testing (see, for example, 'Diabetes and the Counterfeit DUI', 'GERD, Acid Reflux and False Breathalyzer Results" and "The Effect of Anemia on Breath Tests"). Yet another example of variability is body temperature. Put simply, an individual's body temperature will have a direct effect on the results of a breath test...continue to full post

Full post as published by DUI Blog on October 13, 2010 (boomark / email).