Hello again from Elyria, Ohio! Today we are going to learn about the technology of measuring blood alcohol concentration.

Alcohol detecting breathalyzers, also known as ignition interlock, or breath alcohol ignition interlock, is a device designed to detect if a person has been drinking alcohol and the technology can be used to keep a person from starting or driving a vehicle that has been drinking. Wondering how it works? The device utilizes a sensor to detect the alcohol content in a breath sample and compares it to a preset limit. With an ignition interlock device If the limit is exceeded, the ignition is inhibited.

The Science: The device itself contains a remarkable feature: a small ethanol-specific fuel cell sensor that converts alcohol into electricity. When Alcohol on the breath comes into contact with a porous disk of gold and platinum deposits located in the fuel cell it converts into acetic acid.  The conversion produces a fixed number of electrons per molecule. The more alcohol is present, the more electricity the fuel cell generates. This electricity level is then measured and correlated to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The results are immediate and highly reliable. An interlock device serves as an affordable means of monitoring alcohol consumption. If you require an interlock device, please feel free to contact our office.