Measurement of Uncertainty for Aqueous Ethanol Wet-Bath Simulator Solutions Used with Evidential Breath Testing Instruments.
Aqueous ethanol wet-bath simulator solutions are used to perform calibration adjustments, calibration checks, proficiency testing, and inspection of breath alcohol instruments. The Toxicology Bureau of the New Mexico Department of Health has conducted a study to estimate a measurement of uncertainty for the preparation and testing of these wet-bath simulator solutions. The measurand is identified as the mass concentration of ethanol (g/100 mL) determined through dual capillary column headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detector analysis. Three groups were used in the estimation of the aqueous ethanol wet-bath simulator solutions uncertainty: GC calibration adjustment, GC analytical, and certified reference material. The standard uncertainties for these uncertainty sources were combined using the method of root-sum-squares to give uc = 0.8598%. The combined standard uncertainty was expanded to U = 1.7% to reflect a confidence level of 95% using a coverage factor of 2. This estimation applies to all aqueous ethanol wet-bath simulator solution concentrations produced by this laboratory.
Toxicology Bureau, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102. rong.hwang@state.nm.us.
Rong-Jen
RJ
Hwang
Toxicology Bureau, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.
Jada
J
Beltran
Toxicology Bureau, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.
Craig
C
Rogers
Toxicology Bureau, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.
Jeremy
J
Barlow
Toxicology Bureau, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.
Gerasimos
G
Razatos
D001944:Breath Tests; D002138:Calibration; D000431:Ethanol; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D009516:New Mexico; D035501:Uncertainty
D000431:Ethanol
aqueous ethanol solution; forensic science; gas chromatography; measurement of uncertainty; toxicology; wet-bath simulator