Disease control agency advises on proper use of breathalysers

By THE NATION

 

 

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has suggested procedures to safely use breathalysers amid fear of Covid-19 infection.

 

DDC deputy director-general and spokesman Dr Atsadang Ruay-Ajin said on Thursday (March 12) that the Covid-19 situation has raised concerns among those who have to use breathalysers -- both police officers and drivers -- as the process involves bodily fluid and could transfer the virus.

 

“There are two kinds of breathalysers: one for screening and the other for evidential test,” he said. “The screening type can be placed 5-8 centimetres from the mouth and requires no blowing. The machine can detect alcohol when the tested person talks in only 3-5 seconds.”

 

As for the evidential testing, the tested person must keep the nozzle in the mouth and blow the air into breathalyser. “The evidential testing will only be used if the screening test reveals that the person has alcohol in the breath and it can show the amount of alcohol in a tested person’s body in unit of mg per 100 ml of blood,” he added.

 

“To avoid Covid-19 transmission while using breathalysers, testing staff must wear face masks and gloves and wash their hands before and after the test,” said Atsadang. “Meanwhile, the person getting tested should be offered to unpack the nozzle or mouthpiece by themselves to make sure that they receive a new equipment and not a used one. Most importantly, they must never suck in the air into their mouth while using the breathalyser.”

 

Atsadang also added that after each test the nozzle must be removed and properly disposed of while the breathalysers of both kinds must be cleaned with 70 per cent alcohol before using them on the next person.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383991

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-13

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

“There are two kinds of breathalysers: one for screening and the other for evidential test,” he said. “The screening type can be placed 5-8 centimetres from the mouth and requires no blowing. The machine can detect alcohol when the tested person talks in only 3-5 seconds.”

I wonder if you spoke for 3-5 seconds while breathing in, would that fool it?

Well I'm not worried about this one. Never seen BiB use one.

28 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I wonder if you spoke for 3-5 seconds while breathing in, would that fool it?

If you had a "coughing fit" prior to them wanting to test you, you would probably fool them ????

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“There are two kinds of breathalysers:

One for the elite and one for the rest!

4 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Well I'm not worried about this one. Never seen BiB use one.

Got breath tested once.

Was in a que of traffic about 100 M long and I never saw the tube being either changed or cleaned or sanitised in any way for the whole que.

When I was asked to blow into it I refused until the tube was cleaned. There was a huge argument as you would expect with the BIB, but eventually he just told me to go, basically because he never had the cleaning Equipment or replacement Tubes

And no, I was not drunk

I do not drink

18 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Well I'm not worried about this one. Never seen BiB use one.

Thong Lor cops use them to shakedown tourists passing by on the sidewalk.

Mmm, clean with 70% alcohol then breath into it could there not be some cross contamination in the reading ?  ????

7 hours ago, mikebell said:

Thong Lor cops use them to shakedown tourists passing by on the sidewalk.

That should be even more effective now. Blow and get corona or pay up.