Top 9 rating according to KP
1. Delta AT-600
In a neat box, they sell the device itself, instructions along with a table of the ratio of alcohol in blood and in exhaled air, as well as a set of sealed mouthpieces. Powered by an AAA battery, you can charge it via microUSB, which is included. The analysis process takes about five seconds. The device has a memory for the last ten measurements. If you do not touch the device within 20 seconds, it will turn itself off. When alcohol is detected in the blood, the screen begins to flash red uneasily, and the device emits a series of signals. The result can be switched to different units. Buyers note the quality assembly. The details here are really tightly fitted to each other. The plastic is pleasant to the touch. However, in the reviews, users complain that the residual alcohol in the blood – the one that persists 8-10 hours after drinking – is not detected by the device.
Features
Personal, semiconductor sensor, measurement up to 2 ppm, sound, visual indication, auto-off, low battery indicator.
2. Dingo E-010
The device at the junction of professional and amateur. However, it has a certificate from Roszdravnadzor, which means it can be used in the workplace to determine the sobriety of employees. Able to work through the mouthpiece and without it. Disposable tubes for it can also be bought from the manufacturer at a price of 6 rubles apiece. The instrument has a backlit digital display. It shows not only the result, but also the number of measurements. If you pay extra 3-4 thousand, you can buy a kit for connecting to a computer. A little expensive for the cable and program, but there is no alternative. Through a computer, you can start the device remotely and save the results of the research. According to the instructions, once a year it must be given to a service center for calibration. Or have it serviced once a year. It is hardly worth buying one for personal use, but as a service tool it will do just fine.
Features
Semi-professional, electrochemical sensor, measurement up to 4 ppm, sound and visual indication, auto power off, connection to PC/phone, low battery indicator.
3. Ritmix RAT-310
This is a simple appliance from a Chinese brand of small household appliances. But it’s wildly popular in 2022 due to its affordable price, which is why we couldn’t help mentioning it in the ranking of the best breathalyzers. The manufacturer also has even cheaper models, but there are too many questions about the quality of the measurement. It comes with five plastic mouthpieces in the package. They are not disposable. You are expected to process them after measurement and reuse them. In principle, given the positioning of this device as a personal device, there is nothing wrong with that. He prepares for the launch for 10 seconds and offers the same amount of time to blow into the mouthpiece. Ready for the next measurement quickly enough. Users conducted experiments by blowing inside immediately after drinking kvass. The device reacts to vapors in the oral cavity, but if you wait a few minutes, it does not detect alcohol in the blood. This is a kind of indicator of good accuracy of the device.
Features
Personal breathalyzer, semiconductor sensor, key fob, measurement up to 1,9 ppm, sound, visual indication, auto-off.
4. AlcoHunter Professional+
Operates on two AAA batteries. The sensors of the Japanese company are installed inside. According to the specification, such a device is correctly capable of carrying out up to 140 measurements per day. The device monitors the correctness and completeness of the patient’s inspiration in order to avoid all sorts of inaccuracies associated, including with a deliberate wrong attempt. The device has a bright OLED screen that glows beautifully in the dark. The result can be displayed immediately in three different units of measurement: percentage of ethanol concentration in the blood, ppm or mg / l. Able to determine even ultra-low concentrations of alcohol. The electronic filling has a digital compensation system. Temperature and humidity at the time of the test does not matter. Before use, the sensor is heated to 400 degrees Celsius. So all the condensate and traces of past measurements evaporate from it.
Features
Professional, semiconductor sensor, measurement up to 5 ppm, sound, visual indication, auto-off, low battery indicator.
5. Alcogran AG-100
This breathalyzer is equipped with the most popular sensor for measuring the level of alcohol in exhaled air – electrochemical. Measurement accuracy up to a thousandth ppm. According to the instructions, the sensor is enough for at least 1000 measurements. After that, the device must be given for inspection to a technical service, where they will calibrate or state unsuitability for further operation. It can show that the resource is not so big. We hasten to dissuade that by the standards of breathalyzers, this is a very good “margin of safety.” Local mouthpieces are equipped with a check valve. Due to this, it will not be possible to simulate exhalation. It is powered by only one “little finger” battery. There is no way to charge the battery from USB. Although one element for personal use is enough for several years, if the battery is of high quality. If the sensor detects intoxication, the device starts to emit a characteristic squeak, and the display is highlighted in red.
Features
Personal breathalyzer, electrochemical sensor, measurement up to 1 ppm, sound, visual indication, auto-off.
6. DRIVESAFE II
A high-precision device from Canada that measures the concentration of ethanol vapor in exhaled air. It has an electrochemical sensor. You can buy for enterprises to perform, for example, pre-trip inspections of drivers. For this, it has the necessary certificates. If the subject exhales insufficiently, the device will not work and will signal this. This way you can avoid cheating. LCD display with bright green backlight. The color changes, depending on the degree of intoxication of the patient, to orange or red. The inscriptions on the case are Russified. One mouthpiece in an individual package for this costs 7 rubles. You can buy a case for 1000 rubles, however, it is an ordinary plastic box. Interestingly, according to the documentation, the life of the sensor is two years, and the entire device is five years. For domestic use, this does not play a significant role. Although it is unlikely that anyone will buy such an expensive breathalyzer for personal use.
Features
Semi-professional, electrochemical sensor, measurement up to 9,99 ppm, sound and visual indications, auto-off, low battery indicator.
7. STITEK PRO2
One of the most relevant devices on the market for the best breathalyzers in 2022. The sensor here is a semiconductor – you can read more about their features in our review below. Mouthpieces are not included, and there is nowhere to put them. Exhalation must be done in a special hole. The device is compact and, thanks to its rounded shape, lies well in the hand. The main feature that distinguishes this breathalyzer from its competitors is the watch. For them, a separate screen is displayed above the main one. It displays not only the current time, but you can display the air temperature and the timer. Or set an alarm. To be honest, the feeling that the manufacturer simply stuffed an electronic watch into the case does not leave, but maybe this will come in handy for someone. Between tests, you need to maintain an interval of one minute. The results are displayed as a percentage of alcohol in the exhalation or ppm. On one charge of two AAA batteries, it can withstand 200 tests.
Features
Personal breathalyzer, semiconductor sensor, measurement up to 1,9 ppm, visual indication, auto-off, clock, timer.
8. Mark V Breathalyzer
An interesting device, reminiscent of a flip phone from the last decade. It is immediately clear that Chinese engineers worked on the hull. Although, judging by the characteristics of the manufacturer, this is a joint development with a company from the United States. The device has peculiar elongated mouthpieces resembling a pipe. They are reusable. The device comes in a solid case. It has a color display. You can order a power adapter to work from a wall outlet. If more expensive kits with cable and software to enter all the results into a database of a computer program. Up to two thousand last measurements are stored in memory. The device controls the duration of the exhalation and, in case of insufficient time, will prompt you to repeat the procedure. Operates on four “little” batteries.
Features
Professional, electrochemical sensor, measurement up to 4,4 ppm, sound, visual indication, auto-off, PC connection.
9. Airline ALK-L-01
We do not urge to take seriously such a simple device. It is rather a curious souvenir-toy. It comes with a keychain and can be hung on a keychain. And it also has a built-in LED flashlight – a nice bonus. You need to hold down the power button throughout the procedure. Mouthpiece installation is not provided here. The patient exhales directly into a special hole on the body of the breathalyzer. There is no screen here. The result will show one of the LEDs. If you are clean, it will turn green. If the concentration of alcohol in the exhaled air does not exceed 0,2, then the middle yellow light will light up. For other indicators, red color. Between tests you need to take a break of three minutes. The manufacturer also recommends Do not eat or smoke for 20 minutes before the test. Although he accurately determines intoxication, so if you need the most budgetary device, you can purchase it.
Features
Personal breathalyzer, semiconductor sensor, measurement up to 0,2 ppm, visual indication.
How to choose a breathalyzer
Healthy Food Near Me asked a representative of the MedPoint24 company, which manufactures and installs complexes for pre-trip medical examinations of personnel, to tell about the rules and criteria for choosing the best breathalyzers. The composition includes a breathalyzer, since the determination of the content of alcohol vapor in the exhaled air is a mandatory procedure, without which drivers are not allowed to board the flight. Says the company’s lead marketer Ekaterina Galustyan.
What to look for
In the language of professionals, a breathalyzer is called an ethanol vapor concentration analyzer in exhaled air. Here’s what to look for when choosing a device:
- the ability to switch the display from mg / l to ppm and vice versa;
- the presence of conventional batteries and a power supply;
- the ability to change the funnel to the mouthpiece from the kit.
Types of breathalyzers
With semiconductor sensors. The smallest group. The sensor itself is a porous substance. When a person blows air through it, it absorbs alcohol molecules. The volume of the sensor changes, and the degree of intoxication is determined. The main disadvantage of such breathalyzers is that the sensors absorb not only alcohol molecules, but also other substances that are similar in structure.
With electrochemical sensors. Very common. They work quickly, are selective to ethanol and almost do not depend on the ambient temperature. Inside is an electrochemical cell with platinum electrodes, which determine the amount of exhaled ethanol.
With infrared sensors. They have high measurement accuracy. Absorb IR radiation from ethyl alcohol vapor. Such devices have absolute selectivity for ethanol, but the readings are highly dependent on environmental parameters. The disadvantages include a long analysis time
The difference between professional and amateur breathalyzers
We use professional devices, as We need high accuracy. They differ from amateur ones in the ability to transfer information to a server or computer, the number of measurements between sensor calibrations, measurement accuracy and price. At large enterprises, the possibility of installing professional devices at the checkpoints and the possibility of integrating them into access control and management systems is also important.
The price range for professional devices is from 10 to 000. The average price is 200 rubles. Amateur models from 000 to 25 rubles. The average price is 000 rubles.
Can an ordinary person competently use a breathalyzer
Everyone can use the breathalyzer if you follow the instructions for use. In terms of complexity, it can be compared with a tonometer when following the rules, the result will be stable and accurate. If the rules are violated, the readings will be incorrect.
In professional breathalyzers, manufacturers try to exclude the possibility of cheating a breathalyzer; in amateur ones, this task is not worth it.