QED Saliva Alcohol Test

What does a positive reading look like with the Q.E.D. Test?
When a Q.E.D. test result is positive, a dark purple color bar forms within the measurement scale. This color is distinctly darker than the pink or orange color seen as the sample fills the device. The color bar on a positive test — the same color seen in the QA Spot — develops within 2 minutes.

How hard should I press down with the Q.E.D. applicator?
Gently apply slow and even pressure when placing the swab in the entry port. Too much pressure can jam the test. For best results, gently twist collector into the entry port until the cotton touches the red filter pad and then begin pressing.

What does the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) waiver mean for work site testing?
Because work site testing is considered forensic testing, CLIA regulations do not apply. The waived status for the Q.E.D. Saliva Alcohol Test under CLIA ’88 makes testing easier in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and treatment facilities and other locations where our test is used as an in vitro diagnostic tool.

Does the Q.E.D. Test measure residual alcohol in the mouth or is it measuring the alcohol within the entire body (blood stream)?
Beverage alcohol (ethyl alcohol) is absorbed directly and unchanged into a person’s body and is evenly distributed throughout the blood stream and other body fluids, including saliva. The Q.E.D. test measures the amount of alcohol in bodily fluids, commonly called blood-alcohol concentration, or BAC. Residual alcohol in the mouth just after a person takes a drink is quickly absorbed, swallowed, or evaporated, and a person’s mouth is “clear” of residuals 10 minutes after eating or drinking.

Will the Q.E.D. Test react with ketone often found in the saliva of diabetic patients?
No. Unlike breath analyzers and other saliva tests, the Q.E.D. test is specific to ethyl alcohol and will not cross-react with acetone and ketone produced by diabetic patients and individuals with other conditions or on extremely strict diets.

Will the Q.E.D. Device work if it is stored at temperatures out side the range on the packaging?
Storing and using Q.E.D. Tests at room temperature (15-30°C, 59-86°F) ensures optimal performance and a full shelf life. However, the Q.E.D.® test will work fine if exposed to temperatures outside that range for limited periods. We tested the Q.E.D.® device under a wide range of temperatures and storage conditions – simulating the inside of a vehicle glove box on a hot summer day (about 120°F) and the cold of North Dakota in January (about 0°F). In all cases, the test performed as it should. Before using a Q.E.D.® Saliva Alcohol Test exposed to extreme heat, allow the device to cool to room temperature; if the Q.E.D.® device is exposed to extreme cold, put it into a pocket to warm it up.

How can companies using the Q.E.D.® test in very remote areas comply with the DOT’s requirement that confirmation tests on positive screening tests must be conducted within 30 minutes?
The DOT will accept results of confirmation tests conducted more than 30 minutes after a positive screening test. Refer to 49 CFR Part 40 section 40.65, paragraph (b). The DOT added a sentence which directs the Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) to simply explain “why?” if a confirmation test is done more than 30 minutes after a screening test.

Why should I buy the Q.E.D.® Saliva Alcohol Test if I need an Evidential Breath Testing (EBT) to confirm positive test results?
The Q.E.D.® test is much less expensive to operate than a breath test unless you conduct a very high volume of tests in a central location. By and large, each test done on saliva instead of breath saves money. Plus, performing two independent tests is more legally defensible.