Review of AlcoHawk PT500 Breathalyzer
February 21, 2008
The new AlcoHawk PT500 breathalyzer from Q3 Innovations is the top of the line in professional digital alcohol testing devices. The advanced technology used in the AlcoHawk PT500 makes it an ideal unit for law enforcement, corrections officers, clinics, military, schools, and additional areas where accurate professional alcohol testing is required.
Key Features
- Professional grade digital alcohol detector
- Exclusive PT Core electro-chemical fuel-cell sensor provides reliable and accurate results
- Orange back-lit LCD display is easy to read in any lighting
- Solid, impact resistant design that is also lightweight and compact
- Test results returned within 3 seconds
- 3 – 8 seconds adjustable blowing time
- Temperature monitor
- Warning level indicator
- Advanced PressureCheck Technology monitors blow pressure during testing
- Accurately detects Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) between .000% and .400%
- DOT / NHTSA Conforming Breath Alcohol Screener
AlcoHawk PT500 Review and Alcohol Testing Results
It was extremely easy to set up the AlcoHawk PT500 out of the box. Just put in the batteries, connect a breathalyzer straw, and power the unit on. Three buttons are available on the unit, two for menu navigation and testing, and a single power button. After about a 10 second warm up the breathalyzer is ready to go. The default options are good enough for 90% of alcohol testing cases that might be encountered.
Additional options allow for fine tuning of the breathalyzer. Navigating through the menus is simple and intuitive. It’s very easy to find the various options and adjust them for specific environments. The most useful option might be the alarm point, which is defaulted to .020% BAC and can be adjusted. When the alcohol test results are over this point an alarm sounds. The blowing time can also be adjusted. The default setting is 5 seconds, which is standard for obtaining a proper sample. If the test subject cannot blow for 5 seconds then changing this setting may be warranted. Another option allows for changing of the alcohol concentration units between %BAC and g/L. The default is %BAC which is the common unit in the USA.
The AlcoHawk PT500 provides extremely accurate and reliable results thanks to the incorporated PT Core fuel-cell sensor. The sensor is designed specifically for alcohol testing and, as a result, eliminates false positives often found with other breathalyzers. In terms of technology, the PT500 is ahead of the pack and it shows.
It is very quick and easy to test for the presence of alcohol with this breathalyzer. Once the unit is powered on and a mouthpiece has been inserted, simply push the test button and blow once the display says it is ready. Blow until the unit beeps. The test results are displayed on a very easy to read back-lit LCD screen within seconds. An alert sounds if the results are over the limit.
This unit was tested with a group of 8 human testers of various demographics and body types. Other breathalyzers were used in the test as a comparison. As an initial test, the breathalyzer registered .000 before drinking. After each drink and a 15 minute wait everyone ran the test again. As a comparison, other breathalyzers were tested at the same time. This was repeated through multiple iterations. The AlcoHawk PT500 breathalyzer was continuously the most reliable and the BAC results were uniformly linear. The sensitivity of the AlcoHawk also seems to be greater than other breathalyzers. It measures results to 3 decimal places, which can make a difference in a real world scenario. Given the results the AlcoHawk PT500 is the best breathalyzer tested so far.
To get accurate results when using a breathalyzer the test subject should refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking for at least 15 minutes prior to testing. Testing immediately after drinking an alcoholic drink can severely throw off the results. As with all breathalyzers, recalibration is necessary every 6-12 months depending on how often the unit is used.
AlcoHawk PT500 Professional Kit
The AlcoHawk PT500 Professional Kit includes everything needed to begin professional alcohol testing immediately. This breathalyzer comes in a rugged hard case carrier with foam liner for easy and safe transport. Two AA batteries and 50 individually wrapped mouthpieces are also included to get you started. Although the AlcoHawk PT500 is extremely simple to learn and use, a user manual and quick start guide are included as well. The user manual describes how to adjust the various options. The retail price of the PT500 is $299 and includes a 1 year warranty. The kit really underlines the professional thought and detail that went into the design of the AlcoHawk PT500.
Comments
