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Agency: Anonymous
Question: Both the Multi-Ingestion (MIA) and the Single-Ingestion (SIA) Summary reports lists a "+/- range" next the the recorded "Peak BAC" on page one of each of the reports where all scientists' calculations are superimposed on a single graph. Could it be clarified how the +/- range is calculated? I was unable to find any reference to this in the user manual. Thanks...
Response: The "Peak BAC" is calculated by taking the minimum peak BAC and the maximum peak BAC from each of the scientists' calculation and calculates the median value of the two. The "+/- Range" listed next to the "Peak BAC" is the amount that both the maximum peak BAC and the minimum peak BAC deviates from the median value.
Timestamp: 6/8/2007 12:29:24 PM
Agency: Anonymous
Question: BAC Tracker calculates a “standard drink” to be 0.6 oz of alcohol (100%/vol) which translates to 1.5 oz of 40% spirit. Other agencies define a “standard drink” to be 0.5 oz of alcohol (100%/vol) which translates to 1.25 oz of 40% spirit or even as little as 0.4 oz of alcohol (100%/vol) which translates to 1.0 oz of 40% spirit.
Is there a new definition of “standard drink” that we should follow?
Response: BAC Tracker defines a “standard drink” to be 0.6 oz of alcohol (100%/vol). This definition would hold true assuming that a beer contains 5% alcohol and that a standard drink is 1.5 ounces of spirit (a typical shot glass filled to the top as it is in most real life scenarios). Actually, there’s no officially recognized “standard drink” and it really does not matter as long as you are calculating the amount of alcohol in the system. This entire program is based on calculation of actual alcohol amounts. The use of a “standard drink” in BAC Tracker is a mathematical convenience only. There is no need for your agency to redefine the term “standard drink” if it differs from BAC Tracker. The only relevant information needed for these extrapolations is the actual alcohol amounts.
Timestamp: 6/2/2007 2:41:51 PM
Agency: Anonymous
Question: I see on the extrapolation report the term “half life.” I was under the impression that alcohol resembles a linear elimination rate. A “half life” of a drug relates to an exponential process. Could this be clarified?
Response: You are correct in that the half-life refers to an exponential process, not a linear process. Alcohol elimination is linear, to an extent (depending on the concentration). This rate is referred to by the “elimination rate.” However, alcohol absorption is exponential and the term “half-life” is appropriate when talking about alcohol absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Timestamp: 5/30/2007 8:56:54 PM
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