If you contact Integrity Sampling to conduct alcohol testing in your Northern Territory workplace, we’ll turn up with the best breathalysers available. Specifically, it will be the Dräger Alcotest® 6000 or the Dräger Alcotest® 7000. Accuracy and reliability are vital for us – as they should be for you – which is why we exclusively use the Dräger models.
But what if you want a breathalyser for personal use, or for conducting alcohol testing yourself, in your Northern Territory workplace?
Why not all breathalysers are created equal
When it comes to alcohol testing, not all breathalysers are built the same. A quick online search will show you dozens of affordable options—some costing less than a round of drinks at your local Northern Territory pub. But can these budget-friendly devices be trusted? Are they accurate enough to help you decide whether it’s safe to drive or head to work? Or are they more likely to give you a false sense of security?
Before diving into the pros and cons of cheaper models, it’s important to understand that there are two main types of breathalysers available:
- Semiconductor breathalysers – These are the low-cost options you’ll commonly find online.
- Fuel cell breathalysers – Pricier, but far more advanced in performance.
Both types work by measuring the electrical current generated when the alcohol in your breath reacts with other compounds inside the device. But that’s where the similarities end.
Fuel cell breathalysers more accurate
Fuel cell breathalysers are the clear winner when it comes to accuracy and reliability. While semiconductor models might claim to offer a reading, their margin for error can be quite large. Some can be off by as much as ±0.01% BAC, which means a reading of 0.04% could be 0.05%—the legal driving limit in many areas. That kind of discrepancy could lead you to believe you’re fine to drive when you’re not.
Fuel cell units, on the other hand, offer far greater precision—some with accuracy down to ±0.0005% BAC. They also perform better in terms of speed, consistency and reliability.
It’s also important to point out that all breathalysers require calibration to maintain their accuracy. However, fuel cell models can remain dependable for hundreds or even thousands of tests before recalibration is needed. Semiconductor breathalysers, in contrast, degrade more quickly and require frequent recalibration just to maintain basic accuracy.
Overall, semiconductor breathalysers are less accurate and less reliable, especially if you’re counting on them for critical decisions.
Conducting alcohol testing in your Northern Territory home or workplace
Back to our questions of a good breathalyser for personal use or for conducting alcohol testing yourself, in your Northern Territory workplace.
For personal use, make sure you choose a fuel cell breathalyser. For example, the Dräger Alcotest® 4000 is a great choice and only costs $395. It’s compact, quick to use, accurate and reliable.
The Dräger Alcotest® 4000 is also a wise choice if you’re after a breathalyser for your Northern Territory workplace. To pop in a pool car, a work vehicle or in the office for example. If you’re intending to do a lot of alcohol testing, the Dräger Alcotest® 6000 is perhaps a better choice. It’s considered a more professional model. It can be used with a slide ‘n’ click mouthpiece or can measure alcohol in the ambient air without a mouthpiece.
If you want further advice on breathalysers we’ll be glad to help. Contact our main office or one of our Northern Territory drug and alcohol testing locations.
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Not all breathalysers are created equal. Before you drive or make alcohol testing decisions based on a breathalyser reading in your Northern Territory workplace, read this blog.
