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A Review of BAC Tracker from a
Forensic
Laboratory
“BAC Tracker brings
new life to an otherwise mundane procedure
through its incorporation of recent scientific
knowledge to the application of alcohol
pharmacokinetics. The program incorporates quite
a few innovative ideas and allows greater
control in determining the parameters utilized
in assessing both anterograde and retrograde
simulations. It utilizes a user-friendly format
and is based on an existing, well established
program, Microsoft Excel.
Our laboratory has
utilized similar alcohol pharmacokinetic
programs in the past and experienced relatively
positive outcomes with data analysis; however,
the previous programs prevented much data
manipulation with multiple ingestions, gastric
content differentiation (proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, etc.), or assessment at worst
case / best case scenarios all within the same
confines of a single consumption event. With BAC
Tracker, we could incorporate all three tools
and assess the variations associated with the
standard parameters of absorption rate,
elimination rate, etc. Another incredibly useful
design associated with this program is the
implementation of a multi-model calculation
based on modifications of the original Widmark
formula. At any given time we can evaluate our
data with any of the five pharmacokinetic models
based on Widmark; Watson, et al.; Forrest; Seidl;
Ulrich, et al.; and a modification introduced in
May 2007 by Posey-Mozayani. Additionally, we can
also assess the data with an average of all five
models or view all five models simultaneously in
both tabular and graphical representations. This
last point is extremely helpful when attempting
to relay the relevance of a particular analysis
to attorneys, judges, juries and other
colleagues.
Another point of
interest in the program includes a relatively
extensive database of both foreign and domestic
alcoholic beverages with the added ability to
update the database with new drinks selective to
the case in question. The user manual and help
section were valuable as well as they provided
additional detail regarding what options were
available in the program, what those options
meant and how they were derived, including a
relevant peer-reviewed bibliography for the end
users' reference. In conjunction with our
continuing research, BAC Tracker has provided
additional corroboration of our internal methods
in the assessment of DUI cases, and with
continued updates from the manufacturer will
likely continue to be a valuable asset.”
Jesse Kemp, MSFS
Forensic Research Analyst
Analytical Research Laboratories 840 Research Parkway, Suite 546
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Email:
jkemp@arlok.com
Website:
http://www.arlok.com
Also contributing to this review and
utilizing BAC Tracker:
Thomas Kupiec, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Analytical Research Laboratories 840 Research Parkway, Suite 546
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Email:
tkupiec@arlok.com
Website:
http://www.arlok.com
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"BAC Tracker software has caused me to change the way in
which I report alcohol use in medico-legal reports" --
Dr. Edward Ogden, Victoria,
Australia.
