What is a potential issue if the device displays a message related to 'mouth alcohol'?

The message related to 'mouth alcohol' signals that there may have been residual alcohol in the person's mouth at the time of testing. This can occur if the individual recently consumed alcohol, used mouthwash containing alcohol, or failed to wait an adequate amount of time after consuming alcohol before taking the test.

When mouth alcohol is present, it can lead to a significantly inaccurate reading due to the absorbed alcohol from the mouth being mistaken for alcohol present in the breath. As a result, the breath test may reflect a falsely elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, rendering the test invalid.

While device malfunctions, operator training inadequacies, or calibration issues can certainly affect test results, the specific indication of 'mouth alcohol' directly impacts the validity of the test being performed at that moment. Therefore, the correct understanding of this warning is critical for ensuring the reliability of the results and upholding the integrity of the testing process.