Breath Alcohol Tester Calibration for DOT Part 40 Programs

What we do and what we do not do

Foster calibrates and services breath alcohol testing instruments, and trains breath alcohol technicians (BATs). Foster does not sell or perform drug or alcohol testing. We do not test your employees, and we do not collect or report results. Your testing is run by your own qualified BATs or by the service agent you already use.

What we provide is the instrument side: a breath tester that has been calibrated, documented, and returned ready for your program.

Why EBTs are calibrated

An evidential breath tester measures the alcohol in a breath sample, and that number can lead to a worker being removed from safety-sensitive duty. The measurement has to be accurate and the instrument's history has to be documented. Calibration is how you show both.

For employers and service agents in DOT-regulated programs, the rules for EBT use and care are in 49 CFR Part 40, Subpart K. Part 40 requires the EBT to be one that appears on NHTSA's Conforming Products List and to be used and maintained following its manufacturer's instructions, including the quality assurance plan.

49 CFR Part 40, Subpart K

The quality assurance plan drives the schedule

Each EBT manufacturer publishes a quality assurance plan, or QAP. The QAP is the document that sets calibration check intervals, the method for checking calibration with an external device, and what to do if a check is out of tolerance. Part 40 points back to the QAP, so the QAP is the schedule your program follows.

Keep the calibration certificate with the instrument's log. In an audit or a challenged result, the first question is whether the device was within its calibration interval on the day of the test, and the certificate answers it.

Foster works from the QAP for your instrument. Tell us the make and model and we calibrate on the interval and in the way the QAP specifies. We do not substitute our own schedule.

What calibration covers

The specific steps depend on the instrument and its QAP. In general, the work includes the following.

• Checking the instrument's accuracy against a reference standard and adjusting it where the QAP allows.
• Verifying the instrument's operation, including the sample system and printer or data output.
• Preventative maintenance and repair of anything that is out of specification.
• Documenting the work in a traceable calibration certificate for your records.

Instruments we service

Foster is an authorized CMI dealer and service provider, and we are CMI-trained. We calibrate and service CMI Intoxilyzer evidential breath testers, and we service most major brands whether or not you bought them from us. Send the make and model and we will confirm what we can do before you ship anything.

What to include in the box

Send the instrument, its power supply, and any check device or accessories you use with it. Add a short note with your contact information, the serial number, and a description of any fault, error message, or symptom you have seen. The more we know about how the unit has been behaving, the faster we can find a problem.

How mail-in works

• Contact us with the make, model, and serial number of the instrument, and tell us where it is used.
• We send simple packing and shipping instructions.
• Ship the EBT to our Cincinnati facility.
• Our bench technicians calibrate and service it following the QAP.
• The instrument comes back with a traceable calibration certificate. We also send a reminder ahead of the next due date.

Keeping testing running

A DOT alcohol testing program cannot use an EBT that is out of calibration, so plan the calibration cycle in advance. Foster tracks due dates and sends reminders, so a calibration does not sneak up on you. When you calibrate with Foster you also have access to our free loaner instruments during extensive repairs, so ask what is available for your instrument.

Technician training from the same team

Qualified operators matter as much as calibrated instruments. Foster teaches DOT Part 40 BAT qualification training, with proficiency demonstrations observed by a CMI-certified instructor, and refresher courses for returning BATs. Calibrating the instrument and training the person who runs it from one provider keeps your records consistent. See our BAT training page for details.

Compliance-driven records

Employers in DOT-regulated industries are held to Part 40 and choose their own vendors for testing, calibration, and training. Calibration records are among the first documents requested in a DOT audit or an alcohol testing dispute. Complete certificates and a clear history are what protect your program.