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