You might have heard about ways in which DUI breath tests can sometimes turn out wrong. But what about blood and urine tests? Can they be wrong, too?
Yes, they can. Even though they might seem more scientific and trustworthy, the truth is that the results used to prosecute someone are not always accurate. Why not?
Mix-ups can occur
Labs that process blood and urine tests typically have many samples passing through every day. That means that mix-ups can occur. If someone puts the wrong label on a sample or puts something in the wrong bag, it could result in inaccurate test results being attributed to a person. Clerical errors on the computer are another possibility that could cause a result to be attributed to the wrong person.
Contamination is also possible
It is possible for contamination of samples to occur. A trace of a previous sample may remain in a machine used for collection or analysis. The person handling the sample might have a foreign substance on their gloves that comes into contact with the driver’s sample. Alcohol swabs used might affect the results.
Equipment faults
Chemicals used to analyze samples might have become contaminated or mixed up. Alternatively, the machines themselves might not have received the calibration they need.
Proving that a test reading is inaccurate is unlikely to be easy, but then neither is living with the consequences of a wrongful DUI conviction. If you believe you have been wrongly charged, then it is wise to learn more about the defense options that are available to you.
