(a) Methods for forensic alcohol analysis shall meet the following standards of procedure:
(1) The method shall employ calibration standard(s) which is/are water solution(s) of ethyl alcohol.
(A) Such alcohol solutions are secondary standards, which, for the purposes of these regulations, applies to prepared or purchased solutions.
(B) Each forensic alcohol laboratory shall purchase NIST traceable CRMs, or prepare a secondary alcohol standard, establishing the concentration of the prepared standard by using a direct oxidimetric method which employs a primary standard, such as NIST potassium dichromate.
(C) The forensic alcohol laboratory personnel shall verify the concentration of any new secondary standard used in the method by analyzing the new secondary standard concurrently with a NIST SRM.
(D) If a purchased secondary standard (CRM) has been certified as analytically verified against a NIST SRM, the verification pursuant to 1220.2 (a)(1)(C) is not required.
(2) The procedure shall include blank and secondary alcohol standards.
(A) A blank and secondary standard(s) shall be analyzed concurrently or prior to analysis of subject samples on each day of analysis and on any instrument used.
(B) All blank(s), secondary standard(s), and samples shall be taken through all steps of the method.
(3) The procedure shall also include analysis of quality control reference samples as described in Section 1220.
(A) A quality control reference sample shall not be taken from the same lot of alcohol solution which is used as a secondary alcohol standard.
(4) All samples shall minimally be analyzed in duplicate. Alcohols or other volatile organic solvents shall not be used to wash or rinse glassware used for alcohol analysis. If volatile organic solvents are employed in the maintenance of equipment, the solvent
s must be thoroughly removed.
(5) All instruments used for alcohol analysis shall be in good working order.
Credits
Note: Authority cited: Section 100703, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 100700, Health and Safety Code.
1. Amendment filed 11-24-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 48).
2. Amendment of section and new Note filed 1-26-2017; operative 4-1-2017 (Register 2017, No. 4).
This database is current through 4/26/24 Register 2024, No. 17.
Cal. Admin. Code tit. 17, § 1220.2, 17 CA ADC § 1220.2
