Breath test operator UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Types of alcohol - CORRECT ANSWER - -Ethanol/ethyl (alcoholic beverages: grain or
spirits)
-Methyl/Methanol/wood alcohol- highly toxic, chemical (paint thinners)
-Isopropyl/Isopropanol- medical purposes (rubbing alcohol)
How is ethanol made? - CORRECT ANSWER - sugar+ yeast = alcohol by-product
(fermentation)
What is the highest alcohol concentration through fernmentation? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 12-15% (24-30 proof)
How do you achieve a higher alcohol concentration? - CORRECT ANSWER - by
distilling (up to 100% or 200 proof). It will increase each time you distill
Pharmacokinetics of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1) Absorption: getting into the
body
2) Distribution: getting it through the body
3) Elimination: getting it out of the body
How can the body absorb alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Ingestion
-Skin contact
-inhalation
-injection
-other
What is the alcohol that is naturally produced in the body? What is the maximum concentration?
- CORRECT ANSWER - Endogenous Ethanol. 0.003%
, What can affect distribution? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fat/ Slender
Male/female
Water content
where/how does alcohol metabolism? - CORRECT ANSWER - Occurs in the liver
-Enzymes (alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase)
-breakdown products are carbon dioxide and water
Pharmacodynamics (what it does) of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - -CNS Depressant
-Vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels, which decrease blood pressure)
-Lowering of the body temperature
-Increase stomach acid production
-Birth Defects
-Increase urine output
How do you select / report results - CORRECT ANSWER - Use the lower of the 2-3
results and truncate to the second decimal place (0.109 is 0.10 NOT 0.11)
How can a subject fail to complete the required testing sequence? - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Doesn't provide number of proper samples
-Fail to provide sample when directed
-incomplete test
(log test as refusal)
How long is the observation period? What makes it restart? - CORRECT ANSWER - 20
minutes ( of no eating, drinking, smoking, vomiting, etc.)
Remove any foreign objects (a removable tongue ring is a foreign object, dentures are not)
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Types of alcohol - CORRECT ANSWER - -Ethanol/ethyl (alcoholic beverages: grain or
spirits)
-Methyl/Methanol/wood alcohol- highly toxic, chemical (paint thinners)
-Isopropyl/Isopropanol- medical purposes (rubbing alcohol)
How is ethanol made? - CORRECT ANSWER - sugar+ yeast = alcohol by-product
(fermentation)
What is the highest alcohol concentration through fernmentation? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 12-15% (24-30 proof)
How do you achieve a higher alcohol concentration? - CORRECT ANSWER - by
distilling (up to 100% or 200 proof). It will increase each time you distill
Pharmacokinetics of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1) Absorption: getting into the
body
2) Distribution: getting it through the body
3) Elimination: getting it out of the body
How can the body absorb alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Ingestion
-Skin contact
-inhalation
-injection
-other
What is the alcohol that is naturally produced in the body? What is the maximum concentration?
- CORRECT ANSWER - Endogenous Ethanol. 0.003%
, What can affect distribution? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fat/ Slender
Male/female
Water content
where/how does alcohol metabolism? - CORRECT ANSWER - Occurs in the liver
-Enzymes (alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase)
-breakdown products are carbon dioxide and water
Pharmacodynamics (what it does) of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - -CNS Depressant
-Vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels, which decrease blood pressure)
-Lowering of the body temperature
-Increase stomach acid production
-Birth Defects
-Increase urine output
How do you select / report results - CORRECT ANSWER - Use the lower of the 2-3
results and truncate to the second decimal place (0.109 is 0.10 NOT 0.11)
How can a subject fail to complete the required testing sequence? - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Doesn't provide number of proper samples
-Fail to provide sample when directed
-incomplete test
(log test as refusal)
How long is the observation period? What makes it restart? - CORRECT ANSWER - 20
minutes ( of no eating, drinking, smoking, vomiting, etc.)
Remove any foreign objects (a removable tongue ring is a foreign object, dentures are not)
