Final answer:
Gray top tubes, which contain sodium fluoride, are preferred for both glucose and blood alcohol level testing as they prevent glucose breakdown and alcohol production. Openstax.org lists normal fasting and random blood glucose measurements. Blood alcohol levels are measured using a Breathalyzer, which relies on an oxidation reaction that changes color to represent ethanol concentration.
Step-by-step explanation:
For glucose testing, a preferred tube choice is a gray top tube, which contains sodium fluoride as a preservative and an antiglycolytic agent that prevents the breakdown of glucose by the cells in the blood sample. For Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) testing, the tube of choice is also a gray top tube because the sodium fluoride in it prevents the fermentation and production of alcohol from sugar in the sample, which could lead to false-high readings. Regarding glucose measurements in the blood, the openstax.org webpage referred to in the question provides normal levels of glucose in the form of measurements indicating fasting blood sugar and random blood sugar levels.
In the context of blood alcohol testing, the Breathalyzer device is commonly used. The device quantifies ethanol concentration in the breath, which corresponds to blood alcohol levels. Utilizing an oxidizing reaction with the dichromate ion, the ethanol present in a suspect's breath is converted to acetic acid and the solution changes color, indicating ethanol quantity. The color intensity changes from yellow-orange to green, illustrating the concentration of alcohol, which is then correlated to blood alcohol levels based on established standards.