Breathalyser Calibration

This will usually depend on the time elapsed since the unit was purchased or last recalibrated. Other factors that increase the requirement for calibration frequency are volume of use, blowing unnecessarily strong concentrations of alcohol into the unit, or not waiting 15 minutes after consuming alcohol.

As a maximum guideline:

• Personal Use Breathalysers utilising Xtend® and BluFire® sensors need to be calibrated at least every 12 month
• Workplace Use Breathalysers utilising Xtend® and BluFire® sensors need to be calibrated between 6 and 9 months depending on the model and certification requirement

All of the breathalysers we distribute will come with a manufacturer’s recommendation for recalibration. These are also noted on this website under each of the product pages. Even if you don’t use your breathalyser for a prolonged period of time it’s accuracy will eventually begin to drift. This is why all recalibration recommendations come with a number of tests and a time guideline (whichever comes first).

Essentially higher usage or blowing high alcohol concentration samples, will build up alcohol residue on the sensor more quickly. When selecting which model of breathalyser you should consider that higher grade sensors (Xtend® or BluFire® fuel cell electrochemical) will have a substantially lower calibration requirement than semi-conductor sensors or lower grade fuel cell sensors.

We will email you at the maximum guideline date and remind you that recalibration is due. You may also notice your breathalyser may start taking much longer to warm up and consecutive readings could become inconsistent. This is not necessarily the case however and multiple tests may be closely grouped but ultimately be inaccurate. This is where quality plays a big part in the ongoing usability of your breathalyser and sending it in each cycle for recalibration and servicing which will ensure its longevity an accuracy.

Once you purchase a breathalyser from Breathalysers New Zealand we will track the units serial number and run it through our calibration monitoring program. This will trigger us to send you an email to remind you as the unit becomes due for recalibration so you don’t have to worry about missing the time frame.

For Xtend® or BluFire® fuel cell sensors; BACtrack S80 Pro, BACtrack Mobile Pro, BACtrack Trace Pro, BACtrack Scout, C8 Smartphone and C6 Keychain the cost is $59.95 inc GST. This also includes the pickup and return courier to and from Auckland and Blenheim.

Before sending us your breathalyser please email us first on support@breathalysers.co.nz

Breathalysers New Zealand is New Zealand’s only certified recalibration facility for BACtrack products. Additionally we are the only company that can perform this service globally for Australian and New Zealand sold BACtrack products.

Breathalysers New Zealand enforces a strict recalibration policy to comply with local AS3547 Australian Standards requirements. This Standard specifies that there must be complete traceability of the units serial number for it to be able to be recalibrated under the Standard. If the breathalysers serial does not originate from one of Breathalysers New Zealand’s facilities then we are unable to put our name behind the unit by recalibrating it. We do this not only to comply with the Australian Standard but also to ensure that substandard equipment is not being used to make potentially unsafe public decisions. Part of this consideration is that many leading brand breathalysers are replicated on the international market and can contain lower grade components.

Additionally if the unit originated from us yet the calibration period has lapsed for over 18 months we are unable to calibrate the unit. This is due to there being a substantially increased chance of the sensors performance being negatively affected to a point where calibrations will not hold accuracy for the required / specified periods of time.