Guardian Angel Alcohol Test: The devil is in the details

描述（由申请人提供）：最有效的酒后驾车法律规定了禁止的BAC水平。然而，大多数驾驶员对BAC概念的理解非常有限。此外，他们估计自己的BAC水平的能力非常有限。有证据表明，周末晚上在路上超速驾驶的司机低估了他们的BAC水平。因此，为重度饮酒者提供一种正确估计其BAC水平的方法可以降低这些司机对自己和他人造成的风险。在过去的30年里，已经开发了几种用于计算饮料或进行自我测试的辅助工具。然而，很少有被充分评估，大多数未能在美国商业上可行。 最近，一种新的自我测试设备守护天使（GA）-已经开发出来，分析唾液样本的酒精含量。GA单元有许多好的功能，如它的大小（小到足以在钱包中携带）和成本（约2美元的四个测试条）。它已经广泛地做了广告，并通过杂货店和药店分发。然而，几乎没有关于该股业绩的资料。制造商报告称，该器械已根据运输部标准进行了测试，但仅提供了非常有限的测试信息。此外，关于该产品的“现场可用性”的信息知之甚少。在有限的试点测试中，PIRE发现，性能的准确性部分取决于用户的BAC。GA测试需要适当的管理和解释，以产生准确的结果。因此，测试用户的中毒和黑暗照明条件可能导致不准确的测试结果，这可能增加用户的风险。 拟议的研究计划的目的是进行两项研究，将确定GA唾液测试的有效性和可靠性相比，一个标准的证据呼吸测试设备，并调查的因素，将确定在何种程度上的测试结果将影响用户的决定饮酒和酒后驾车。该研究还将研究经验证的准确与不准确的BAC反馈的影响，以及明确与精确的BAC反馈对饮酒者对醉酒和损伤的感知的影响。这项研究不仅具有实际意义，通过验证GA测试，但也有理论意义的BAC反馈的作用一般。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The most effective drinking-and-driving laws set prohibited BAC levels. However, most drivers have a very limited understanding of the BAC concept. Further, their ability to estimate their BAC levels is very limited. Evidence shows that over-the-limit drivers on the roads on weekend evenings underestimate their BAC levels. It appears, therefore, that providing heavy drinkers with a method of correctly estimating their BAC levels could reduce the risk such drivers pose to themselves and others. In the last 30 years, several aids for counting drinks or performing self-tests have been developed. Yet, few have been adequately evaluated and most have failed to become commercially viable in the United States. Recently, a new self-test device the Guardian Angel (GA)--has been developed that analyzes the alcohol content of saliva samples. The GA unit has many good features such as its size (small enough to be carried in the wallet) and cost (about $2 for four test strips). It has been advertised extensively and distributed through grocery stores and drug stores. Nonetheless, there is almost no information on the performance of the unit. The manufacturer reports that the device has been tested to the Department of Transportation standards, but only very limited information has been provided on their tests. Furthermore, little information is known about the "field usability" of the product. In a limited pilot test, PIRE found that the accuracy of that performance depends in part on the BAC of the user. The GA test requires proper administration and interpretation to produce accurate results. Thus, intoxication of the test user and dark lighting conditions may lead to inaccurate test results that could increase the risk to the user. The aim of the proposed research program is to conduct two studies that will determine the validity and reliability of the GA saliva test compared to a standard evidential breath-test device and to investigate the factors that will determine the extent to which the results of the test will affect user decisions about drinking and about drinking-and-driving. The research also will examine the impact of verified accurate versus inaccurate BAC feedback, as well as that of categorical versus precise BAC feedback on drinkers' perceptions of intoxication and impairment. This research not only has practical implications by validating the GA test, but also theoretical implications regarding the role of BAC feedback in general.