Sorbello Jacob G, Devilly Grant J, Allen Corey, Hughes Lee R J, Brown Kathleen
School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia.
Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia.
PeerJ. 2018 Mar 14;6:e4418. doi: 10.7717/peerj.4418. eCollection 2018.
Several field studies have used fuel-cell breathalysers (FCB) to investigate the prevalence of alcohol intoxication. However, there is a lack of evidence evaluating the psychometric properties of these breathalysers outside of the forensic disciplines.
The current research describes four studies designed that assess the reliability and validity of portable platinum FCBs for research on alcohol intoxication. Utilising the Alcolizer LE5 breathalyser and, to a lesser degree, the Lifeloc FC-20 and the Lion Intoxilyzer 8000, each study sampled patrons frequenting popular night-time entertainment districts with varying levels of alcohol intoxication.
Study one and two found excellent test-retest reliability and inter-instrument reliability for FCBs. Study three and four provided evidence to support the convergent validity of the two FCBs (the LE5 with the FC20), and with an evidential breathalyser (i.e., the Lion Intoxilyzer 8000; EB).
A 93-97% agreement rate between breathalyser readings was found across the four studies. Portable FCB are recommended as a reliable and valid instrument for research designs requiring quick alcohol intoxication estimations in large populations. Strategies to enhance reliable and valid readings are provided for field researchers.
多项现场研究使用燃料电池呼气酒精含量测定仪（FCB）来调查酒精中毒的患病率。然而，缺乏在法医学领域之外评估这些呼气酒精含量测定仪心理测量特性的证据。
当前的研究描述了四项旨在评估便携式铂燃料电池呼气酒精含量测定仪在酒精中毒研究中的可靠性和有效性的研究。每项研究都使用了Alcolizer LE5呼气酒精含量测定仪，在较小程度上还使用了Lifeloc FC - 20和Lion Intoxilyzer 8000，对光顾不同酒精中毒水平的热门夜间娱乐区的顾客进行采样。
研究一和研究二发现呼气酒精含量测定仪具有出色的重测信度和仪器间信度。研究三和研究四提供了证据支持两种呼气酒精含量测定仪（LE5和FC20）以及与一种证据呼气酒精含量测定仪（即Lion Intoxilyzer 8000；EB）的收敛效度。
在四项研究中，呼气酒精含量测定仪读数之间的一致率为93% - 97%。对于需要在大量人群中快速估计酒精中毒情况的研究设计，建议使用便携式燃料电池呼气酒精含量测定仪作为一种可靠且有效的工具。为现场研究人员提供了提高可靠和有效读数的策略。
