Arizona Department of
Public Safety Arizona
Forensic Scientist I/II (Blood
Alcohol) Exam Plan
,QUESTIONS
Question 1
A coordinated review separates “Factors affecting absorption rates (e.g., food,
concentration, gastric emptying)”, “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate)
and preservatives (e.g., sodium fluoride) and their mechanisms of action”, and
“Correlation between blood alcohol concentration ranges and clinical
behavioral impairment”. Which ordered assignment avoids switching their
roles?
A. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol → Specimen Types and Collection
Procedures → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol
B. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol → Specimen Types and Collection Procedures
→ Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol
C. Specimen Types and Collection Procedures → Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of
Ethanol → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol
D. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of
Alcohol → Specimen Types and Collection Procedures
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Factors affecting
absorption rates (e.g., food, concentration, gastric emptying). Specimen Types and Collection
Procedures: Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate) and preservatives (e.g., sodium fluoride) and
their mechanisms of action. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Correlation between
blood alcohol concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment. B: Positions 1, 3 do not
preserve the corresponding task-to-focus relationships. C: Positions 1, 2 do not preserve the
corresponding task-to-focus relationships. D: Positions 2, 3 do not preserve the corresponding
task-to-focus relationships.
Question 2
After finishing “Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety
regulations governing breath and blood testing”, a practitioner moves from
“Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Arizona” to
“Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol”. Which task matches the
new focus?
A. Mechanisms and sites of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract
B. Impact of hemolysis and storage conditions on alcohol concentration
C. Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety regulations governing breath and blood
testing
D. Detectors and Quantitation
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Mechanisms and sites of
ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence
(DUI) in Arizona: Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety regulations governing
breath and blood testing. B: This describes “Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection
Phenomena”, rather than the requested focus. C: This describes “Legal Framework of Driving
Under the Influence (DUI) in Arizona”, rather than the requested focus. D: This describes
“Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested focus.
2
,QUESTIONS
Question 3
Which note correctly distinguishes the focus of “Absorption, Distribution, and
Elimination of Ethanol”, “Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols”,
“Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials”, “Physiological and Behavioral
Effects of Alcohol”? Pay particular attention to the role of “Chemical hygiene
plan, handling of corrosive or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal”.
A. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Chemical hygiene plan, handling of corrosive
or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal
B. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Correlation between blood alcohol
concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment
C. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Accreditation standards (ISO/IEC 17025 and
forensic-specific guidelines)
D. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Zero-order vs. first-order kinetics of ethanol
elimination
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials: Chemical hygiene plan, handling of
corrosive or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal. B: This option instead describes the
following different focus: Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Correlation between blood
alcohol concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment. C: This option instead describes
the following different focus: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols: Accreditation
standards (ISO/IEC 17025 and forensic-specific guidelines). D: This option instead describes the
following different focus: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Zero-order vs.
first-order kinetics of ethanol elimination.
Question 4
A brief initially required “sodium fluoride” for “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium
oxalate) and preservatives”, but now concerns “Artifacts, Interferences, and
Post-Collection Phenomena”. Which task matches the revised requirement?
A. Relevant Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) concerning blood alcohol concentration limits and
per se laws
B. Phase equilibria between liquid/solid sample and gas headspace
C. sodium fluoride
D. Impact of hemolysis and storage conditions on alcohol concentration
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation: Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena: Impact of hemolysis
and storage conditions on alcohol concentration. Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate) and
preservatives: sodium fluoride. A: This describes “Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence
(DUI) in Arizona”, rather than the requested focus. B: This describes “Headspace Sampling
Technology”, rather than the requested focus. C: This describes “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium
oxalate) and preservatives”, rather than the requested focus.
3
, QUESTIONS
Question 5
“Detectors and Quantitation” is complete under “Headspace Sampling
Technology”. Which next task addresses the separate requirement for
“Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol”?
A. Distribution of ethanol throughout body water compartments
B. Detectors and Quantitation
C. Temperature programming and optimization for volatile analysis
D. Automated headspace autosampler operation and injection mechanics
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Distribution of ethanol
throughout body water compartments. Headspace Sampling Technology: Detectors and
Quantitation. B: This describes “Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested
focus. C: This describes “Principles of Gas Chromatography”, rather than the requested focus. D:
This describes “Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested focus.
Question 6
One of the following notes confuses the roles of “Quality Assurance and Quality
Control Protocols”, “Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena”,
“Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol”, “Absorption, Distribution,
and Elimination of Ethanol”. Which note is inconsistent? Pay particular
attention to the role of “Physiological variables influencing metabolism (e.g.,
gender, body composition, enzymatic pathways like ADH, ALDH, and MEOS)”.
A. Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena — Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples
B. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol — Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples
C. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol — Acute tolerance, chronic tolerance, and
metabolic adaptation
D. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols — Standards, blanks, controls, and reference
materials (NIST traceability)
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The note requiring correction assigns the second focus’s activity to the first
focus. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Physiological variables influencing
metabolism (e.g., gender, body composition, enzymatic pathways like ADH, ALDH, and MEOS).
Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena: Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples. A: This association is consistent: Artifacts, Interferences,
and Post-Collection Phenomena: Identification and evaluation of fermentation in compromised
samples. C: This association is consistent: Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Acute
tolerance, chronic tolerance, and metabolic adaptation. D: This association is consistent: Quality
Assurance and Quality Control Protocols: Standards, blanks, controls, and reference materials
(NIST traceability).
4
Public Safety Arizona
Forensic Scientist I/II (Blood
Alcohol) Exam Plan
,QUESTIONS
Question 1
A coordinated review separates “Factors affecting absorption rates (e.g., food,
concentration, gastric emptying)”, “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate)
and preservatives (e.g., sodium fluoride) and their mechanisms of action”, and
“Correlation between blood alcohol concentration ranges and clinical
behavioral impairment”. Which ordered assignment avoids switching their
roles?
A. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol → Specimen Types and Collection
Procedures → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol
B. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol → Specimen Types and Collection Procedures
→ Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol
C. Specimen Types and Collection Procedures → Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of
Ethanol → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol
D. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol → Physiological and Behavioral Effects of
Alcohol → Specimen Types and Collection Procedures
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Factors affecting
absorption rates (e.g., food, concentration, gastric emptying). Specimen Types and Collection
Procedures: Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate) and preservatives (e.g., sodium fluoride) and
their mechanisms of action. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Correlation between
blood alcohol concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment. B: Positions 1, 3 do not
preserve the corresponding task-to-focus relationships. C: Positions 1, 2 do not preserve the
corresponding task-to-focus relationships. D: Positions 2, 3 do not preserve the corresponding
task-to-focus relationships.
Question 2
After finishing “Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety
regulations governing breath and blood testing”, a practitioner moves from
“Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Arizona” to
“Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol”. Which task matches the
new focus?
A. Mechanisms and sites of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract
B. Impact of hemolysis and storage conditions on alcohol concentration
C. Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety regulations governing breath and blood
testing
D. Detectors and Quantitation
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Mechanisms and sites of
ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence
(DUI) in Arizona: Administrative rules and Department of Public Safety regulations governing
breath and blood testing. B: This describes “Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection
Phenomena”, rather than the requested focus. C: This describes “Legal Framework of Driving
Under the Influence (DUI) in Arizona”, rather than the requested focus. D: This describes
“Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested focus.
2
,QUESTIONS
Question 3
Which note correctly distinguishes the focus of “Absorption, Distribution, and
Elimination of Ethanol”, “Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols”,
“Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials”, “Physiological and Behavioral
Effects of Alcohol”? Pay particular attention to the role of “Chemical hygiene
plan, handling of corrosive or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal”.
A. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Chemical hygiene plan, handling of corrosive
or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal
B. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Correlation between blood alcohol
concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment
C. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Accreditation standards (ISO/IEC 17025 and
forensic-specific guidelines)
D. Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials — Zero-order vs. first-order kinetics of ethanol
elimination
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Materials: Chemical hygiene plan, handling of
corrosive or toxic reagents, and proper waste disposal. B: This option instead describes the
following different focus: Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Correlation between blood
alcohol concentration ranges and clinical behavioral impairment. C: This option instead describes
the following different focus: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols: Accreditation
standards (ISO/IEC 17025 and forensic-specific guidelines). D: This option instead describes the
following different focus: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Zero-order vs.
first-order kinetics of ethanol elimination.
Question 4
A brief initially required “sodium fluoride” for “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium
oxalate) and preservatives”, but now concerns “Artifacts, Interferences, and
Post-Collection Phenomena”. Which task matches the revised requirement?
A. Relevant Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) concerning blood alcohol concentration limits and
per se laws
B. Phase equilibria between liquid/solid sample and gas headspace
C. sodium fluoride
D. Impact of hemolysis and storage conditions on alcohol concentration
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation: Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena: Impact of hemolysis
and storage conditions on alcohol concentration. Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium oxalate) and
preservatives: sodium fluoride. A: This describes “Legal Framework of Driving Under the Influence
(DUI) in Arizona”, rather than the requested focus. B: This describes “Headspace Sampling
Technology”, rather than the requested focus. C: This describes “Anticoagulants (e.g., potassium
oxalate) and preservatives”, rather than the requested focus.
3
, QUESTIONS
Question 5
“Detectors and Quantitation” is complete under “Headspace Sampling
Technology”. Which next task addresses the separate requirement for
“Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol”?
A. Distribution of ethanol throughout body water compartments
B. Detectors and Quantitation
C. Temperature programming and optimization for volatile analysis
D. Automated headspace autosampler operation and injection mechanics
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Distribution of ethanol
throughout body water compartments. Headspace Sampling Technology: Detectors and
Quantitation. B: This describes “Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested
focus. C: This describes “Principles of Gas Chromatography”, rather than the requested focus. D:
This describes “Headspace Sampling Technology”, rather than the requested focus.
Question 6
One of the following notes confuses the roles of “Quality Assurance and Quality
Control Protocols”, “Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena”,
“Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol”, “Absorption, Distribution,
and Elimination of Ethanol”. Which note is inconsistent? Pay particular
attention to the role of “Physiological variables influencing metabolism (e.g.,
gender, body composition, enzymatic pathways like ADH, ALDH, and MEOS)”.
A. Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena — Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples
B. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol — Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples
C. Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol — Acute tolerance, chronic tolerance, and
metabolic adaptation
D. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Protocols — Standards, blanks, controls, and reference
materials (NIST traceability)
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The note requiring correction assigns the second focus’s activity to the first
focus. Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination of Ethanol: Physiological variables influencing
metabolism (e.g., gender, body composition, enzymatic pathways like ADH, ALDH, and MEOS).
Artifacts, Interferences, and Post-Collection Phenomena: Identification and evaluation of
fermentation in compromised samples. A: This association is consistent: Artifacts, Interferences,
and Post-Collection Phenomena: Identification and evaluation of fermentation in compromised
samples. C: This association is consistent: Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol: Acute
tolerance, chronic tolerance, and metabolic adaptation. D: This association is consistent: Quality
Assurance and Quality Control Protocols: Standards, blanks, controls, and reference materials
(NIST traceability).
4
