Whether for personal use or for legal purposes, breathalyzers are crucial when it comes to determining blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. There are several options with regard to breathalyzers, and selecting between portable or professional breathalyzers requires consideration of the level of accuracy, cost, and ease of use.
Difference in Scope
Portable breathalyzers are designed for personal use and are compact with semiconductor sensors. Professional breathalyzers used by medical practitioners and law enforcement officers have greater accuracy and feature a fuel cell sensor. The BACtrack C6 Keychain is a suitable example of a breathalyzer used for personal purposes. On the other hand, the Drager Alcotest 9510 is used in formal alcohol tests.
Cost, Ease of Use, and Accuracy
Professional breathalyzers that apply the use of fuel cell technology are much more precise and stable as compared to traditional models. They also offer increasing levels of precision.
Portable breathalyzers using semiconductor sensors are somewhat less accurate and are subject to minor discrepancies owing to external conditions. The greater the discrepancy, the more accurate the breathalyzer. Fuel cell breathalyzers have a variance of less than 0.005% BAC. However, semiconductor models have a difference of up to 0.02% BAC.
Pricing:
- For the portable breathalyzers, they are available from US$30 to US$150, which is reasonable for everyone.
- For the professional breathalyzers, the range is set between US$500 and US$2,500 owing to the greater accuracy and ruggedness of the device. While the AlcoHAWK PT500’s price is in the vicinity of US$150, the Intoxilyzer 9000 is above US$2000.
As a result of technological advancements and increased accuracy, the global demand for alcohol detection equipment has surged, reaching an estimated industry value of US$10.6 billion in breathalyzers in 2023 with a CAGR of 18.6 percent for the years 2023 to 2030.
Usability
- The portable breathalyzers are made for easy use, and most can be integrated with a smartphone to get BAC readings.
- Professional breathalyzers require some amount of training as they produce results that can stand up in court, hence essential for law enforcement and work environments. For instance, security companies prefer to use the Lifeloc FC20 to obtain legally defensible results, while social drinkers may use BACtrack S80 to keep themselves safe.
Selecting the Best Breathalyzer
If you are checking alcohol levels for safety, the BACtrack Mobile Pro offers an easy way to check BAC through a smartphone. In law enforcement, medicine, and workplace testing, there are professional-grade breathalyzers like the Dräger Alcotest 5000 to facilitate large-scale, legally defensible tests.
You can have both a portable and a professional breathalyzer depending on your budget. However, portable models are easy on the pocket while professional models allow for accuracy. Whichever option a user selects, breathalyzers aid in responsible drinking, which helps prevent drunk driving and encourages safety.
