How long should the wait time between breath samples be to safeguard against residual or mouth alcohol?

The recommended wait time between breath samples in the Intoxilyzer 9000 is approximately 5 minutes. This duration is crucial for ensuring accurate results, as it allows sufficient time for any residual alcohol in the mouth to dissipate. Mouth alcohol can falsely elevate the test results if not adequately accounted for.

During this waiting period, the breath tester can ensure that the subject has not recently consumed alcohol, either in liquid form or as residual traces from previous drinking. By allowing this time, the program mitigates the potential for contamination of the breath sample with alcohol that may still be present in the mouth, leading to more reliable and valid readings.

Shorter waiting periods, such as 2 or 3 minutes, may not allow enough time for all residual alcohol to clear, which can result in inaccurate readings. A wait time of 4 minutes can also be insufficient depending on individual circumstances. Therefore, the 5-minute interval stands as the most effective safeguard in ensuring the integrity of the breath alcohol testing process.