What You Need to Know about Blood Testing for a DUI

Did you have a blood sample drawn when you were arrested for a DUI or DWI?

Finding out that the blood alcohol content came back high can be devastating, especially if you know you were not impaired while driving your vehicle. Many people incorrectly assume that failing the blood alcohol test means that a conviction is inevitable- but that’s simply not the case.

There are many ways that the results can be contested. In fact, some people are able to successfully have the results thrown out of court entirely, which means that they can’t be used as evidence against you.

What Are Some of the Errors That Can Happen During Blood Testing for a DUI or DWI?

There are four main times that errors can occur:

• Collection
• Transportation and storage
• The testing

Here are a few examples of possible mistakes that can be made during these stages of the process.

• The area on your arm where blood was drawn was not properly sterilized first.
• The needle that was used for extracting blood was not correctly assembled.
• The needle that was used for extracting blood was not properly inserted.
• The blood test sample was not drawn from the right area of your body.
• The tubes that were used when collecting the blood sample had already expired.
• The person collecting your blood did not take enough for adequate testing.
• The blood sample was not properly mixed with preservative and anti-clotting chemicals in the collection tube.
• There was a faulty seal on the collection tube for your blood sample.
• While waiting for the blood testing to be done, the blood sample was not stored properly.
• You were administered drugs or intravenous fluids before the blood sample was taken.
• The technician did not follow standard lab protocols for the testing of your blood.
• The lab did not maintain the blood testing machine properly.
• The lab did not properly test the blood sample.
• The lab chemist did not properly interpret the data from the testing.

Do some of these examples sound a little technical? They are! That’s why you need an experienced DUI attorney who understands the science behind blood testing.

Each of these issues can be cause for questioning the results of your blood testing for a DUI or DWI charge. In some situations, multiple errors can be discovered to have occurred throughout the process. The right DUI attorney will know where to look and how to uncover these types of errors, helping you to win your DUI or DWI charge.