What is a common cause for the "Interferent Detected" error?

The presence of volatile organic chemicals is a common cause for the "Interferent Detected" error in the Intoxilyzer 9000. This error occurs because the device is sensitive to a wide range of substances beyond just ethanol, the primary alcohol measured for blood alcohol content. When volatile organic compounds—such as those found in certain cleaning agents, chemicals, or even some medical products—are present in the breath sample, they can interfere with the device's ability to accurately determine the level of alcohol.

The Intoxilyzer is designed to measure specific wavelengths of light absorption that correlate with alcohol. When other substances that absorb at similar wavelengths are present, the device cannot distinguish between them and ethanol, leading to the "Interferent Detected" message. This is critical for ensuring the accuracy of alcohol measurements, as any interference can result in false readings, which might compromise both the testing process and legal outcomes.

Understanding this allows users to recognize the importance of ensuring that the sample submitted is free from such contaminants, which is fundamental for the credibility of the test results.