Disease control agency advises on proper use of breathalysers

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.