Alcohol & Ketones question

[IcePack]

I,ve been trying to get an answer to the following question which may be of relevence in some of these cases, not necesseraly this one.
" Does the breath analyser look for actual Alcohol in the breath OR Ketones?"
If you are on the Atkins Diet you would proberbly be in Ketossis with smelly breath. But I guess your blood/ urine sample would be (alcohol) negative.
Moderator please don't move or delete this post as I am sure if there is someone out there who knows the answer, it will be of use to us all.

[cavortingcheetah]

The breathalyzer is meant to measure the alcohol leve as an indication.
You do not have to be on an Atkins diet to produce excess Ketones. One day of fasting is sufficient to produce a positive Ketone reading in most people using a urine re-agent test stick.

However:


Ketones/acetone, from fat metabolism, and not uncommon in
diabetics, can cause a falsely high breathalyzer test. “a researcher
found that expired ketones in the breath of an untreated diabetic can
contribute to erroneously high breath-alcohol readings. Further, the
acetone on the breath from ketoacidosis will result in an odor of
alcohol. Finally, behavioral patterns of a diabetic whose blood-sugar
level has dropped will include slurred speech, slow gait, impaired
motor control, fumbling hand movements and mental confusion—all
symptomatic of intoxication.”
http://www.california-drunkdriving.c...t_studies.html

Strike up for The Blue Ribbon!

[OverRun]

Older model breathalysers can give falsely high readings due to ketones. New model ones (supposedly) can't. Don't you watch Doc Martin?