Glossary

49 CFR Part 40 - Code of Federal Regulation, commonly referred to as DOT regulation, that mandates and regulates Workplace alcohol testing in DOT-regulated industries, generally related to transportation

B.A.T - "Breath Alcohol Technician" - One trained and certified to conduct Evidential Workplace alcohol tests per DOT regulations and Manufacturers' equipment operator guidelines

BAC or BrAC - Blood Alcohol Content / Breath Alcohol Content (U.S.A. use) - terms have become generally interchangeable in daily use. Grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath: 0.1 BAC = 0.1 grams of alcohol in 210 liters of breath. Equivalent to 0.1 parts of alcohol per 1,000 parts of blood

C.P.L - "Conforming Products List" (Devices tested and listed by the DOT)

D.E.R. - Designated Employer Representative

DOT - U. S. Department of Transportation, a federal agency of which NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is a part

DUI or DWI - Driving Under the Influence (or) Driving While Intoxicated

EBT - Common acronym for "Evidential Breath Tester"

PBT - Common acronym for "Portable Breath Tester"

Q.A.P. - Quality Assurance Plan. A NHTSA-approved plan from the EBT manufacturer, which is mandated by federal DOT regulations. The QAP specifies the inspection, maintenance, and calibration requirements and intervals for the equipment, taking into account numerous factors. It requires users of EBTs to ensure that inspection, maintenance and calibration of their equipment is performed by the manufacturer or by individuals certified by the manufacturer or by a state agency. Lifeloc meets this government requirement by providing and requiring certification through a nationwide training network of instructors

Response time - The time necessary for an instrument to register a result after a breath sample

Recovery time - After a breath sample has been taken, the time necessary for an instrument to reset and be ready for the next test

Screening test - An initial test taken for the presence of or the presence and level of alcohol. Results are typically not used in courts. Sometimes referred to in informal discourse as "probable cause"

Evidential test - A test taken following strict procedures and using certified equipment that may in certain circumstances be used for disciplinary action and/or in court.

Calibration - To set the measurement of a Breath Testing Device to an established standard.

Calibration Check - To check and verify the accuracy of the instrument calibration. Also known as "External Calibration Check", "Accuracy Check", or "Verification".

Wet bath - Liquid bath method of providing an alcohol standard for either the calibration of an instrument or for a calibration check an alcohol standard for calibration or calibration check.

Mouthpiece - Plastic tube attached to a breath testing device for tested subject to exhale into - one used for each test for sanitary reasons. Also known as "straw", "stick", "tube", "blow tube", "blow stick", or "breath tube"

Automatic test - The unit automatically takes the sample at the proper time while the subject is blowing, using a mouthpiece. In a properly calibrated fuel cell unit, these tests are quantitatively accurate to specifications

Manual test - The operator manually triggers when the sample is taken using a mouthpiece. In a properly calibrated fuel cell unit, these tests are quantitatively accurate to specifications

Passive test - No mouthpiece is used. While the subject simply blows toward the unit, the operator manually triggers when the sample is taken

Residual mouth alcohol - Alcohol retained in the mouth for a short period of time following consumption of an alcohol-containing beverage or other substance. Certain products other than beverages contain alcohol, i.e: some mouthwashes, breath freshener sprays, and cough syrups. These substances can cause inaccurate test results. However, by waiting 15 minutes before performing a breath test, mouth alcohol dissipates from the subject's breath

Semi-conductor device - Less expensive device using a semi-conductor gas sensor, sometimes referred to as a Taguchi cell

Fuel cell device - Compact and highly accurate PBT's widely used in law enforcement, evidential workplace testing, corrections, and other professional applications. Alcohol-specific

Infrared device - Larger, more expensive, non-portable table-top EBTs generally used at police stations to test DUI suspects. Highly accurate. Alcohol-specific

Zero tolerance - Term used to indicate that any level of alcohol is significant (or any level above a specified threshold).