Title: Section 59.2 - Techniques and methods for determining blood and urine alcohol

59.2 Techniques and methods for determining blood and urine alcohol.

(a) All blood and urine alcohol determinations shall be made by quantitative methods and reported as whole blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to the second decimal place as found; for example, 0.137 percent found shall be reported as 0.13 percent weight per volume. If specimens other than whole blood are analyzed, the following conversions shall apply:

(1) three fourths of the determined concentration of alcohol in the urine shall be equivalent to the corresponding BAC; and

(2) nine tenths of the determined concentration of alcohol in the serum or plasma shall be equivalent to the corresponding BAC.

(b) Analytical procedures for blood and urine alcohol analysis shall include the following controls in conjunction with any sample or series of 10 samples analyzed sequentially or simultaneously:

(1) a blank analysis as appropriate; and

(2) analysis of a suitable reference sample of known alcoholic content greater than or equal to 0.08 percent weight per volume, the result of which analysis shall agree with the reference sample value within the limits of plus or minus 0.01 percent weight per volume or such limits as specified by the commissioner.

(c) An analysis of urine shall be made upon two specimens collected at least 30 minutes apart. (d) If a blood specimen is to be collected for analysis, an aqueous solution of a nonvolatile antiseptic shall be used on the skin. Alcohol or phenol shall not be used as a skin antiseptic. (e) Specimens shall be clearly identified at the time of collection.