Duplicate breath testing: statistical vs forensic significance of differences

✍ Scribed by R.G. Gullberg

• Book ID: 104119614
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 343 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0015-7368
• DOI: 10.1016/s0015-7368(87)72770-4

✦ Synopsis

The forensic application of breath test measurement requires there be analytical precision and confidence. Precise modern instrumentation that requires an essentially alveolar sample will ensure breath test precision. The collection of two breath samples from each individual provides confidence in results and allows for the evaluation of data by means of a t-test for paired data. Bearing in mind that the power of the t-test increases with sample size, but considering the clinical or forensic differences, reveals no meaningful difference between two intra-individual breath samples collected approximately three minutes apart.