A professional breathalyzer is a fuel cell tester built for frequent use by someone other than the person blowing: a safety manager, a sober living house manager, a counselor or a site supervisor. It is expected to hold calibration longer, handle many people a day and fit a written testing policy. This page compares handheld professional models using only what their makers publish and explains where screening ends and evidential testing begins.
BACtrack Trace Pro, a Pro Grade fuel cell unit with a published tolerance of +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC and a maker statement that it meets DOT/NHTSA requirements for a screening device.
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AlcoMate Revo, because its precalibrated sensor module is swapped by the user instead of the whole unit going away for factory calibration.
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BACtrack Mobile (sold earlier as the Mobile Pro), a fuel cell unit with a breath pump that sends results to the BACtrack app.
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| Model | Sensor | Stated accuracy | Calibration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BACtrack Trace Pro | Xtend fuel cell | +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC | Annual recommended, send-in service | Small teams and spot checks |
| BACtrack Mobile | Xtend fuel cell with pump | +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC | Every 6 to 12 months, send-in service | Phone-based logging |
| AlcoMate Revo | Fuel cell, replaceable module | +/- 0.005 at 0.10% BAC | Swap module every 1,000 tests or yearly | Shared devices, high test counts |
| Lifeloc FC10 | Platinum fuel cell | +/- .005 to .100 BAC, +/- 5% above | Yearly, station based | Law enforcement and corrections |
| Draeger Alcotest 5820 | Electrochemical fuel cell | Not published by the maker | Wet or dry gas, interval not on the sheet | Law enforcement screening |
Every handheld on this page is a screening device. Screening shows whether alcohol is present and roughly how much, which is enough for a house rule or a company policy. Evidential breath testers are a separate class built for formal proceedings, with printed records, air blanks and external calibration checks.
For employers covered by federal transportation rules, 49 CFR Part 40 draws the line clearly. Section 40.229 allows only devices from the approved screening list or the approved evidential list for screening tests, and says a screening device must not be used for a confirmation test. Section 40.231 requires confirmation on a listed evidential tester that prints results in triplicate, numbers each test and can tell alcohol from acetone. A screening result of 0.02 or more triggers a confirmation test after a waiting period of at least 15 minutes. Under FMCSA rules a driver at 0.04 or more may not perform safety-sensitive functions, and a result from 0.02 up to 0.04 removes the driver from those duties for at least 24 hours.
This is an estimate. It cannot tell you whether you are safe or legal to drive. If you have been drinking, do not drive.
If your program falls under DOT rules, read our guide to dot breath alcohol testing and the official text of Part 40 before buying. Most rehab programs, sober living homes and non-regulated workplaces screen only and set their own policy.
Spec source: maker's published specifications
Who it suits: a small business, crew leader or house manager who tests a few people a day and wants a published tolerance.
What to know: there is no Bluetooth and the maker publishes no test memory, so plan to record results on paper or in your own system. Full details in our bactrack trace professional breathalyzer review.
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Spec source: maker's published specifications
Who it suits: supervisors and counselors who already carry a phone and want a history of results in an app.
What to know: the unit has no screen of its own, the app privacy terms are not stated on the product page or in the user guide, and the user guide says the battery cannot be replaced. Our bactrack mobile pro review covers the naming change.
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Spec source: maker's published specifications
Who it suits: programs that test many people and cannot afford a unit away at a service center for a week or two.
What to know: modules come in Type A and Type B versions that are not interchangeable, so check your serial number first. The maker states DOT approval, which we could not match to a current NHTSA list entry, and warm-up and result times are not published. See the alcomate revo review.
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Spec source: maker's published specifications
Who it suits: courts, probation, corrections and agencies that already run a documented calibration program.
What to know: the maker lists it as an NHTSA conforming evidential product but states the FC series is not approved for DOT workplace confirmation testing under 49 CFR Part 40. We have no Amazon listing to point you to, so buyers go through the maker.
The Alcotest 5820 sheet is marked for law enforcement purposes only in the USA, and search listings of the maker's regional pages describe it as end of sales. Read our draeger breathalyzer review for the background, and pick from the handhelds above for workplace screening.
Work through these points with your written policy in hand.
Add calibration fees and shipping or replacement sensor modules, plus a mouthpiece for every test and batteries. A unit that swaps its sensor on site can cost more up front and less to keep running. Our best breathalyzer ranking and most accurate breathalyzer page set these models against personal units.
Makers use the term for fuel cell units built for frequent use that hold calibration longer, and the useful test is a published tolerance plus a clear calibration path.
Only a listed evidential breath tester that meets 49 CFR 40.231 can be used for confirmation, while handheld screening devices are limited to screening tests.
Follow the maker, which for these models ranges from yearly service to replacing a sensor module every 1,000 tests or once a year.
Yes, use a fresh individually wrapped mouthpiece for each person, which DOT rules also require for confirmation tests.
That depends on your written policy and any federal rules that apply, so take advice on the policy before relying on a screening result alone.
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