Are your blood alcohol test results accurate?

Residents in Colorado who are pulled over on suspicion of a DUI-related crime will likely have to take some sort of test to determine what your blood alcohol content (BAC) levels are. These tests can vary in reliability. The most reliable of them is a blood test. By taking a sample of blood directly from you, authorities are able to have it examined in a medical lab for alcohol levels. However, even this method is not immune to being incorrect. 

First of all, there’s the fact that alcohol actually takes a while to get into your blood stream. Your BAC levels will therefore continue to grow even after you have stopped drinking. This means that your BAC level at the time your blood was drawn could actually be different from what it was at the time you were driving. It may have been below the limit then. 

Next, there is human error to account for. For example, blood samples that are left out for too long can no longer give accurate results. The coagulation of the samples can cause the BAC level to read as falsely high. Additionally, it is possible for staff to mix up blood samples or the results from tests. Contamination of the samples before or during the test may happen as well. 

If you are curious to read more about driving under the influence, charges people may face, and the penalties they may receive if convicted, consider taking a look at our web page, linked here. You can also read more about blood alcohol tests and other means that police may use to determine your BAC levels.