How accurate is a blood alcohol detection test?

When drivers in North Carolina are pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, they will likely be asked to take a number of tests. These tests may be used in court to help prove or disprove your sobriety. One of these tests may be a blood test, which involves getting blood drawn and having it analyzed by a lab for alcohol levels. While this is considered one of the most accurate methods of testing for blood alcohol content (BAC) level, there are still some issues with it.

First of all, human error can always factor into the results. Labs and clinics are busy. It is not out of the question that your blood sample may be confused with someone else’s. Sometimes, blood samples are also left out for too long. This can cause blood to begin to coagulate, which can affect the results of the test. Samples may also be contaminated before or during the testing process.

Additionally, the alcohol in your blood builds up over time. This means that by the time you are able to get a blood sample taken for testing, your BAC level may actually be higher than it was while you were driving. This is not uncommon and can be used as a defense against results in court.

Do you want to read more about the laws governing DWI related crimes? Would you like to take a deeper look into the potential penalties people may face if charged and then convicted? If so, consider giving our web page on DWI charges a look. You can read more there.