General FAQ
A Calibration Adjustment is the procedure used to set (or adjust) an instrument’s sensitivity to properly report the known value of a standard or, in other words, to force an instrument to read in conformance to a known standard.
This procedure is done ONLY when your device’s Accuracy Check is no longer within the tolerance levels set by your Quality Assurance Program or other jurisdictional regulations.
All calibrations must be followed by an Accuracy Check to insure that the adjustment is correct.
Also called a “Calibration Check” or “Proficiency Test” or “External Calibration Check”.
The accuracy of any testing instrument should be checked periodically per the regulations governing your breath testing program. An accuracy check is a procedure used to test your instrument’s ability to read a known standard within a given tolerance. This is accomplished by running a standard with a known alcohol concentration through the instrument’s sampling system and verifying that the result is within an acceptable tolerance range of the expected value of the standard. It is much the same as running a sample on a subject but, in this case, the operator knows what result the instrument should produce. It is checking to see that a given known gas value registers correctly within tolerances defined by your testing protocol.
This procedure is called an “accuracy check” and is sometimes referred to as a “calibration check” because it is a test (check) of proper calibration. If the reading produced by the instrument is outside of the acceptable tolerance, the device must be calibrated.
Accuracy checks serve 2 purposes:
Validating Subject test results. If your testing instrument reads the known standard gas within a defined tolerance range then it is reasonable to assume the device will provide accurate readings on a subject test. Any subject tests performed between two successful accuracy checks are, by default, accurate.
Verifying long term accuracy. By documenting your accuracy checks in a calibration logbook, you can demonstrate the instrument’s performance over time.
Department of Transportation
Refers to the United States Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. This department of the federal government administers alcohol and drug testing requirements of the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991. The Omnibus Act established uniform alcohol and drug testing procedures to be used by all DOT Operating Agencies.
Alcohol Testing Form. This is the document on which we record alcohol test data including the subject’s name, company name, company address, operator name & address, and the test result.
There is a special ATF that is required when conducting alcohol tests under the U.S. DOT testing program. Intoximeters carries these forms for purchase as well as an alternate form, called non-DOT, which can be used for non-regulated testing.
An estimate is a way for you to find out approximately how much it will cost to repair an instrument. Estimates for repair are available upon request.
The instrument(s) needing repair and a copy of the completed Return Material Authorization (RMA) form should be sent to Intoximeters. There is a section on the Return Authorization Form that allows you to request an estimate. This section of the RMA form requests that a fax number or email address for the contact person is included so that Intoximeters can forward an estimated quotation to you for your review and approval.
A minimum $40.00 checkout charge will be charged for each instrument requiring an estimate. This charge will also be assessed for any customer requiring an estimate to issue a purchase order or to approve a payment via credit card.
Breath Alcohol Technician. An individual trained to perform breath alcohol tests. This designation indicates that the person is proficient with a specific model of alcohol testing instrument.
In the U.S. Department of Transportation alcohol testing program, BATs are required to meet specific training requirements prior to being authorized to perform alcohol tests on transportation workers.
Expected value is the result that is “expected” to be reported on an alcohol testing device when an accuracy check or calibration is performed. The expected value of the gas standard used must be known prior to conducting an accuracy check or calibration.
Also known as Target Value
A calibration log is a record of accuracy checks and calibrations performed on a specific breath alcohol testing instrument.
A calibration log is a record-keeping requirement of the U.S. Department of Transportation alcohol testing program and must be retained for at least 2 years or as long as your instrument is in service. Information recorded in the log must include the date and time of the procedure, who performed it, where it was performed, the lot number of the gas standard used, the expected/target value and the result.
The logbook is necessary to prove the accuracy of your testing device at the time of a particular test as well as to show the stability and accuracy of your instrument over time.
Alcohol Screening Device. Alcohol testing device or method that can only be used for DOT screening tests and does not meet the requirements for performing confirmation tests.
Designated Employer Representative. An employee authorized by the employer to take immediate action to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties, or cause employees to be removed from these covered duties, and to make required decisions in the testing and evaluation processes. The DER also receives test results and other communications for the employer. Service Agents cannot act as DERs.