Breath Alcohol Testing
What is breath alcohol testing and how is it performed?
Breath alcohol testing, also commonly referred to as a Breathalyzer test, is typically performed on donors who are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the test. Depending on the amount of alcohol consumed, detection times can vary from a few minutes to several hours. Initial results are available instantly and confirmation results are available in 15 minutes.
Breath alcohol tests for private individuals are only performed at our Saint Charles, Missouri clinic. Corporate accounts can arrange for breath alcohol testing at their office or work-site.
If a donor's initial test shows a positive result (a BAC greater than 0.01), a confirmation test can be performed at no additional charge. Confirmation testing is performed to protect donors from having a positive alcohol test due to the use of a breath freshening spray or medication that may contain alcohol.
Who should choose breath alcohol testing?
Breath alcohol testing is usually performed when a donor is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Because there are other drugs or medical indications that may present as someone who is under the influence of alcohol, generally other observations would have to be made before ordering a breath alcohol test. Some of these other observations would be a smell of alcohol whose source appears to be the donor or the donor having possession of or being in close proximity to containers labeled as containing alcohol. If you are concerned about alcohol use, but haven't made any direct observations, you may want to consider urine alcohol testing instead.
Breath alcohol testing requires that the donor provide a breath "sample." Individuals who are undergoing certain medical treatments or problems may not be able to test if the treatments or problems affect their lung capacity or their ability to expel enough air from their lungs quickly enough for the testing device to work.
Breath alcohol testing has been used successfully in legal proceedings.
How we can help.
We can provide breath alcohol tests that include confirmation testing to concerned parents, attorneys, governments, corporations and private individuals. Our services are confidential and court defensible.
Because of the nature of breath alcohol testing, we are only able to offer this service to private parties at our Saint Charles, Missouri clinic. Corporate accounts can arrange for testing at their office or work-site. nationwide. Corporate accounts also have the option of utilizing breath alcohol testing services at select testing facilities across our network of testing facilities nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment for a breath alcohol test?
Appointments are suggested but not required.
How long will the test take?
Breath alcohol tests where the donor is negative and requires no confirmation test can generally be completed within 10 minutes. Donors who require confirmation testing take approximately 30 minutes.
How accurate is a breath alcohol test?
We use the same evidential breath alcohol testing devices that most local and state law enforcement departments in the United States use. Our device has received certification by the NHTSA (US DOT) and is calibrated on the manufacturer's recommended schedule to maintain accuracy. These types of breath alcohol testing devices provide highly accurate results and should not be confused with novelty testing devices available at retail stores which have a large margin of error.
I consumed alcohol the night before, will my test be positive?
It's possible. Depending on how quickly alcohol was consumed, the concentration of alcohol (ABV) that was consumed and your overall metabolism, it is possible for alcohol to be present in your breath for several hours, even after you have ceased alcohol consumption.
Can breath spray like Binaca® really make a breath alcohol test show a false positive?
Yes. Some breath sprays and breath fresheners such as drops can contain a small amount of alcohol. If you use these products immediately before taking a breath alcohol test, you may show a false positive test result.
How long before I get my results?
Results are instant.
Information for Donors
Prior to setting up your test
Make sure to have all necessary information before setting up your test.
In some cases, testing may already be set up. To check if testing has already been set up for you, call us at (636) 916-0050.
If testing hasn't been set up already, it will need to be set up before any appointments can be made or tests performed. To make the set up process quick and accurate, make sure that you have all of the necessary information first.
To set up your test you will need:
- If you would prefer to schedule you appointment to avoid another donor who will be testing, you will need the name of the other donor or donors that you wish to avoid
- If any legal order of protections or restraining orders are in place between any other donors (if known)
- If a court has issued an order requiring the test
If you do not have all of the information, or are unsure about the information that you do have, please let us know this when setting up your test.
Setting up your test
Setting up your test is quick and can be done over the phone.
To set up your test, call us at (636) 916-0050. When you set up your test, you will be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and the donors.
Payment arrangements are also made at this time if another individual is responsible for payment. Payment arrangements must be completed before any collections can be scheduled or performed. For your convenience, we accept Visa or MasterCard over the phone.
Scheduling your test (If necessary)
Appointments are not required for breath alcohol testing.
Appointments for breath alcohol testing are not required.
If you would still like to make an appointment, you can. To schedule an appointment or to make changes to your existing appointment, call (636) 916-0050.
When calling to schedule your appointment, make sure you have all of the necessary information to make the process quick and accurate.
To schedule an appointment, you will need to provide:
- Your name
- Your telephone number
- If any legal order of protections or restraining orders are in place between you and any other donors
- If you are scheduling an appointment for a minor:
- Name of minor
- Age of minor
- If parent or guardian will not be at the facility at the time of the minor's test collection, prior written permission authorizing the collection must be in place.
- The date and time that you prefer
When choosing an appointment time, please keep in mind that the testing process takes between 10 and 30 minutes.
We will make every effort to schedule your appointment for the date and time you prefer, but in some cases the appointment time may not be available.
Providing your specimen
Appointments are not required for breath alcohol testing.
Payment is required at this time unless arrangements have already been made. Prior to arriving for testing, please be sure to bring with you:
- A valid (not expired) government issued photo ID
Acceptable IDs include (copies or faxes are not accepted):
- Driver's License
- Non-Driver License (state ID)
- Passport
- Military ID
- A copy of any court orders if the testing is ordered by a court
- A list of all names and their associated addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses you wish for us to release the results to
If you will be bringing a minor for testing, you will also need to bring:
- A photo ID of the minor (if available)
- If you are a social worker for the state and you will be authorizing testing for the minor, you will need to bring proof of guardianship or the court order for testing that specifically lists you as having the authority to authorize testing for the minor
- Proof of guardianship if any of the following are true:
- Your name does not appear on the minor's birth certificate
- Your last name differs from the minor's last name and no birth certificate showing your name is presented
- You are a relative of the minor
- You are a family friend of the minor
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to check-in and complete the necessary paperwork.
The testing process will take between 10 and 30 minutes.
Obtaining your results
Test results are available instantly before leaving the clinic.
Test results are available immediately after the test concludes. A mailed, faxed or emailed test result is provided to any individuals the donor or guardian, if the donor was a minor, authorized to receive them prior to testing. Mailed results typically arrive 7 days after the testing is completed.
For help interpreting your results, you can ask the breath alcohol technician that conducted your test. If you have questions after leaving the testing facility, you can call us at (636) 916-0050 and one of our staff would be happy to discuss your result with you.
Have Questions?
Breath alcohol testing can be difficult. We understand.
Because breath alcohol testing is generally performed on minors by concerned parents it can be difficult to admit that testing is even necessary. Simply knowing that you need to take a test, or that you need to have someone test, can be stressful. We understand that you will have questions and concerns. We want you to know that we will be here each step of the way to help you. If you have any questions about the testing process, help interpreting your results or would like information on how to join Alcoholics Anonymous or where alcohol abuse treatment can be obtained, please give us a call, we are here to help.