What happens if there is evidence of mouth alcohol during a test?

If there is evidence of mouth alcohol during a test, it can indeed invalidate the test results. Mouth alcohol refers to any residual alcohol that may be present in the mouth area due to recent consumption of alcoholic beverages or other products containing alcohol. When a breath test is conducted using the Intoxilyzer 8000, the presence of mouth alcohol can lead to an artificially high reading because the device measures alcohol vapor emitted during exhalation, including any that might have remained in the oral cavity.

To ensure the accuracy and integrity of the test, protocols typically require that an operator waits a certain period after a subject consumes alcohol before conducting the test, as well as monitoring for any signs of mouth alcohol immediately before testing. If mouth alcohol is suspected, it is crucial to invalidate the test results because they do not reflect the individual's true blood alcohol concentration. Thus, if mouth alcohol is detected, the test should be deemed invalid, and another test may be necessary after allowing enough time for the mouth alcohol to dissipate.