Yes. Certain substances and conditions can temporarily influence breathalyser readings even when no alcohol has been consumed. Common causes include:
These can leave residual alcohol vapours in the mouth or airways, which may be detected if testing occurs too soon.
Fuel-cell breathalysers are highly selective for ethanol and reject most interfering substances.
Semiconductor (MOS) sensors, commonly found in low-cost consumer devices, respond to many vapours (including acetone and solvents) and are far more prone to false positives. They are not suitable for workplace testing.
Professional testing protocols include:
These safeguards ensure results reflect true breath alcohol concentration, not temporary mouth or environmental interference.
Passive breath testing is a quick screening method used to confirm the absence of alcohol. The person exhales, speaks, or breathes near the instrument without a mouthpiece, and the instrument draws in a sample of surrounding air to check for the presence of alcohol.
Because it requires no physical contact, passive testing is fast, low-cost, and environmentally friendly, making it ideal for large workforces, pre-shift testing, and zero-tolerance sites. Results are typically a simple pass/fail and do not provide a numerical breath alcohol concentration (BrAC).
Mouthpiece breath testing requires the individual to blow directly into the instrument through a mouthpiece or straw. This method samples deep-lung air and provides an accurate BrAC reading, which is essential when a precise measurement is required.
Mouthpiece testing is used for:
Many modern workplace instruments support both methods, allowing organisations to screen efficiently while maintaining confirmatory accuracy where required.
Instruments such as Centurion Zero Tolerance are specifically configured for passive testing, while systems like Centurion Quantum (AS 3547.1:2019 verified), LE5, HH3, and HH4 support both passive and mouthpiece testing — offering flexibility without compromising compliance.
You should wait at least 15 minutes before taking a breath test after eating or drinking anything, smoking, vaping, using an e‑cigarette, or using products such as mouthwash, cough drops, mints, or chewing gum.
This waiting period allows any residual alcohol or vapours in the mouth and airways to dissipate, helping ensure the result reflects true breath alcohol concentration rather than temporary contamination.
A 15‑minute observation period is a standard part of professional alcohol testing protocols and is essential for reducing the risk of false positives and ensuring reliable, defensible results.
Police roadside breath tests measure BrAC but display the result as an estimated BAC. In Australia, a BAC reading of 0.05 or higher is considered over the legal limit for full licence holders.
Calibration is essential to ensure the accuracy and reliability of breathalyser readings. Over time, even high-quality sensors can drift, leading to inaccurate results if not calibrated. Fuel cell breathalysers require regular calibration, which must be performed by trained technicians using certified equipment and procedures. This process ensures the instrument continues to operate within acceptable margins.
To be certified to Australian Standard AS 3547.1:2019, calibration is a mandatory requirement. Maintaining this certification is critical for organisations that rely on breathalysers for workplace safety, compliance, and legal defensibility. Maintaining calibration logs is also important for audit trails and legal defensibility in workplace safety programs.
Fuel cell breathalysers are considered the industry gold standard for alcohol detection — trusted by law enforcement, workplace safety professionals, and health and safety teams.
These breathalysers use electrochemical fuel cell sensors to measure alcohol levels with exceptional precision. They offer:
Unlike semiconductor breathalysers, fuel cell devices offer superior accuracy and reliability.
Module exchange calibration is a fast, convenient method that allows breathalysers to be calibrated on-site, without needing to return the instrument. This eliminates downtime and ensures continuous access to testing, which is critical for maintaining workplace safety, compliance, and productivity.
With 24/7 testing availability, organisations can avoid interruptions to alcohol and drug screening programs. Simply order a replacement module online, swap when it arrives, and return the used module — all without disrupting operations.
Additional benefits of module exchange:
This method supports continuous compliance with testing protocols by eliminating downtime and ensuring uninterrupted access to calibrated instruments. Module exchange calibration is available for Alcolizer LE5, Druglizer, and Centurion instruments.
Breathalysers are critical safety tools, and downtime during calibration and/or repair can disrupt operations by limiting access to drug and alcohol testing. Modular systems, such as Alcolizer Technology’s module exchange calibration, allow for on-site replacement, keeping instruments operational 24/7 and avoiding testing delays.
Example uptime comparisons:
Maintaining high uptime ensures continuous compliance, supports safety protocols, and avoids costly interruptions to testing programs.
Certification to AS 3547.1:2019 means the breathalyser meets the Australian Standard for Breath alcohol testing devices, Part 1: Electronic devices for professional use.
AS 3547.1:2019 doesn’t just require accuracy under ideal conditions. Instruments must also be tested against common interfering substances such as acetone, methanol, and carbon monoxide. Compliant instruments stay within strict error margins or correctly flag an error instead of producing a misleading result. This ensures reliability in real-world conditions.
Choosing a certified breathalyser ensures it has passed rigorous testing for:
Yes. Certification to AS 3547.1:2019 ensures the breathalyser instrument is legally recognised and trusted for professional applications. You can be confident that results from certified breathalysers are valid for decision-making in safety-critical situations.
Yes, there is a difference:
Together, they uphold the highest standards of quality and reliability.
Using Alcolizer Technology straws is essential to ensure your breathalyser operates accurately, remains compliant with certification standards, and maintains long-term reliability.
Using Alcolizer Technology straws protects the integrity of your testing process and supports certified device performance. Any modification to straw design would require recertification to maintain compliance.
Alcolizer Technology Closed 24 Dec to 1 Jan
Onsite Testing continues as normal – your scheduled testing is unaffected.
Skeleton Staff will be available 29 to 31st Dec at our Perth Premises
Ph 1300 789 908 | [email protected]
Normal Operations Resume 2 January 2026
Wishing you a safe & happy holiday!
