Why a SCRAM Alert Cannot Pinpoint the Time of a First Drink
The timestamp on a SCRAM report identifies a point in the monitoring record. Estimating the time of a first drink requires a separate analysis and independent information about the timeline.
Separate the clocks
Record the time of each sample, any reported alert time and any independently documented event, such as a breath test or a witnessed drink. A controlled study found a different lag when comparing peaks than when comparing the curves across the observation period.
Questions to ask about a timing opinion
Ask which point on the SCRAM curve the opinion uses, what reference measurement supports the comparison and what range of times the available data can reasonably support. For background on device performance, see the related article below.
Source
Fairbairn and Kang, 2019 laboratory study of transdermal alcohol timing
How accurate are SCRAM and other transdermal alcohol monitors?
