Passive Testing: What you need to know. An essential and informative guide
All Alcolizer instruments are manufactured in Australia to the highest standards, and all hold Australian Standards AS 3547 Certification.
When utilised for passive testing in accordance with Alcolizer manufacturer’s instructions, your alcohol tester can provide an exceptionally accurate, low cost, rapid screen for the presence of alcohol in or near any subject being tested.
What is Passive Testing?
Passive testing for alcohol is a process where a sample of a subject’s breath is collected without the use of a mouthpiece or any physical contact. It commonly involves a subject exhaling/blowing/talking close to an alcohol breath testing device.
The instrument uses an internal pump to draw in a sample of ambient air from around the inlet of the instrument, then analyses that air sample for the presence of any alcohol.
What is the purpose of Passive Testing?
Passive testing should not be confused with Active (Standard) mouthpiece testing. The primary purpose of passive testing is to rapidly establish that no alcohol is present in any subject being tested. The more efficiently such testing can be conducted, and the lower the cost per test, the greater the benefit to your company.
Passive testing is to rapidly establish that no alcohol is present
A Positive Passive Test for Alcohol – The Next Step
Passive testing is a valuable first step towards ensuring your workplace remains alcohol free. However, it is extremely important that you follow Alcolizer instrument instructions for passive testing contained in the instrument User Manual.
Any passive test that detects the presence of alcohol should always result in the following course of action:
Withholding period
The subject should be required to undergo a supervised withholding period of 15 minutes (nothing but water allowed);
Active (Standard) test
A second Active (Standard) test for alcohol using a mouthpiece should be conducted on the subject to determine the presence of alcohol in the blood. This test should only be conducted on an Alcolizer AS 3547 Certified instrument with Active (Standard) test capability. If alcohol is present, an accurate BAC or BrAC reading will be determined and displayed;
Results
If this subsequent Active (Standard) test produces a zero alcohol reading, it should be assumed that the initial positive passive test result for alcohol was the result of extraneous alcohol (an alcohol source other than alcohol in the subject’s blood that may cause impairment) and that there is no alcohol present in the test subject.
Click here to download this passive testing guide in PDF format.
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For further information on passive testing, contact any of the expert staff at Alcolizer today.
Call 1300 789 908
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