Please Note: This post has been updated. Please view the new device for testing here
In this post, I’ll be showing you how to Measure Breath Ketones using the cheap breathalyzer shown below instead of a ketonix (or blood ketone meter).
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through a make a purchase.
BREATHALYSER – https://amzn.to/2Q4DFVe (Amazon)
BREATHALYSER – https://goo.gl/QEZM5Z (eBay Australia)
If you’re interested in getting a blood ketone meter for free, CLICK HERE.
What Is A Breathalyser?
This simple device is what’s called a “breathalyzer”. It’s used to measure the alcohol in your breath by blowing into a sensor, and it gives you a reading in grams per 100ml. In Australia, having an alcohol reading of 0.05g/100ml or higher is considered illegal to drive a motor vehicle.
This device usually goes on eBay for around $10. This super cheap device runs on 3 X AAA batteries and gives you an accurate reading very quickly.
What Is A Ketonix?
A ketonix is a device that measures ketones in your breath. The ketones in your breath is not the same as the ketones measured in blood. Breath ketones are a real-time indicator of using fat as fuel, which is a huge advantage compared to measure urine or blood ketones.
They are very expensive, ranging up to 239.00 USD. This makes the breathalyzer look like a very good option.
What Is Acetone and why is it important?
Acetone as a substance outside of the body is a colourless, volatile, flammable liquid, and is the simplest ketone. Whilst in the body, it is produced by your body whilst in ketosis and used as energy, exactly the same as beta-hydroxybutyrate, commonly known as BHB (usually bound to salts which are also called BHB salts).
If you don’t already know, ketones are used by the body when carbohydrate is restricted, and fat is being burned for fuel.
How Does It All Work?
You’re probably wondering how this all works.
The device listed here, and most other cheap breathalyzers, cannot tell the difference between alcohol or acetone (ketone). The reason why this occurs is that of the sensor that is used within the device.
There are two different types of sensors housed within breathalyzers:
- Semiconductor Sensor (CHEAP). A semiconductor sensor electronically oxidizes alcohol by using a tin-oxide substance. The measured current is an indication of the amount of alcohol (or acetone) that is being reacted in the individual’s breath.
- Fuel Conductor Sensor (EXPENSIVE – USED BY POLICE). Fuel cell breathalyzers contain two platinum electrodes with a permeable acid-electrolyte material is inserted in between. When exhaled air flows past one side of the fuel cell, the platinum instantly oxidizes the alcohol present in the air and generates acetic acid, electrons, and protons.
BREATHALYSER – https://goo.gl/QEZM5Z (eBay Australia)
If you’re interested in getting a blood ketone meter for free, CLICK HERE.
Why measure ketones?
You’re probably wondering if you should measure ketones. The answer is generally only if you’re looking to target specific aspects of the ketogenic diet benefits. If you’re looking how to measure ketosis, then I’ll provide a list of ketone measurement ranges below.
What Are The Optimal Ketone Levels For A Ketogenic Diet?
I’ll list some of the levels below to make it clear for you:
*Keep in mind that the measurements in acetone would be mmol/L which is the same as the setting that shows you g/100ml of alcohol. The video shows you a more detailed version of this.
Improved Athletic Performance / Weightloss:
Above 0.5mmol/L
Improved Mental Performance:
1.5mmol/L – 3mmol/L
Therapeutic:
3mmol/L – 6mmol/L
Therapeutic ketosis would be to manage the following items:
GOOD SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes mellitus
- Weight loss
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- GERD and heartburn
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
THERE IS ALSO REASONABLE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE FOLLOWING:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Dementia
- Schizophrenia, bipolar and other mental illnesses
- Narcolepsy and other sleep disorders
- Exercise performance
EMERGING AREAS THAT REQUIRE FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- Cancer
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain
- Migraines
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Gum disease and tooth decay
- Acne
- Eyesight
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington’s disease
- Aging
- Kidney disease
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Arthritis
- Alopecia and hair loss
- GLUT1 deficiency syndrome
This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. I may earn money if purchases are made through links (at no additional cost to you) which helps support this site and keep the content free.
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Hi Aaron,
I did purchase one of these ‘breathalyser’s’ to test my ketones, but it didn’t function properly & then I saw your chat about the better ketone testing gadget, which I cannot think of it’s name right here.
So I was a little cross that you have left this video here, when you now tell us something else is better, & you did mention that some people found this breathalyser didn’t work all the time.
So could you please remove this video so others don’t waste their money like I did?
I do enjoy your video’s though, but just wanted to make you aware of this.
Thank, Pam
Hi Aaron, I’ve just tried the 2 links you posted to purchase a breathalyser. The Ebay link comes up with an error and the Amazon one takes me to the USA site and it’s $23 plus postage. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks!
Hi ann, I would purchase the Qetoe device located here https://httpslink.com/0o0f
I am in a profession that gets random drug/alcohol tests. How can I do the Keto diet and not blow over 0.00? I am told that if we blow over (for any reason) the 0.00 we are instantly fired.
If you get random breath tested, they will be using a better sensor (one that detects ethanol, not acetone)
Hi… I’m a little over 2 weekend into my Keto journey and I bought a breath meter… most of the time it reads around 2… but in the evenings it’s around 3… almost into “starvation” mode… I’m concerned that I’m doing something wrong with the eating? I’m really trying to loose weight and reduce inflammation. Thanks!
I blow into my new meter and get all zeros every time. Is it the meter or am I doing something wrong?
I get the same……?
Did anyone answer you?
Hi actually you don’t need to remove the batteries to stop the beeping. It’ll will stop automatically after 10 sec. While it is in the beeping mode, pushing the button will scroll the unit of measurement.
DISCOVERY – Note that the AT6000 only measures in THREE UNITS – the top one is mg/100ml, the middle one is mg/L and the bottom one is % BAC. THE MEASUREMENT USED FOR KETONE LEVEL IS IN mmol/L. WITH THE CHEAPIE BREATHALYZER, YOU HAVE TO CONVERT YOUR MIDDLE READING (mg/L) to mmol/L. Here’s a link to a website converter – http://www.endmemo.com/medical/unitconvert/Methanol.php
For all this time, I thought I couldn’t get into ketosis. But, come to find out I’m at 1.9032 mmol/L which is pretty good.
UPDATE – that cheapie AT6000 was wonderful WHEN IT WORKED. I couldn’t get a reading during the first day of ownership. Then, on Day 2, it started giving readings and I was ecstatic. Now, on Day 3, NOTHING AGAIN.
I should say I got zeroes yesterday. Then a crazy high reading this morning straight after workout (the alarm). Went to repeat it and got 0. I’m getting a more reliable result from the pee sticks.
Thank you so much, Aaron, for sharing this!
This is AWESOME!!!
Best regards from Finland
I think for this to work you need to multiply the mg/L (the middle reading on the AT6000) with 1.7212 to get mmol/L.
Mine only reads 0 despite being in good ketosis on urine strips. Can’t multiply 0 by much else
Annie, I had the same problem when I first got my AT6000 analyzer. On another blog, someone suggested breathe into the analyzer more GENTLY as if trying to fog up a mirror. Another “trick” I came across is DON’T TAKE A DEEP BREATH. I think that dilutes the acetone level in your breath with fresh air. Start with normally filled lungs and GENTLY exhale into the analyzer. When I started doing that, I started getting consistent readings. So far, mine are 0.61 – 0.63.
UPDATE – check to see which of the three measurement values your analyzer is set at. By pushing the on/off button after a reading, you can switch between them. I believe the middle one (mg/L) will give you the most decimal places. With that number, go to the website following to CONVERT THAT NUMBER TO mmol/L which is what ketosis levels are measured in. http://www.endmemo.com/medical/unitconvert/Methanol.php
“Keep in mind that the measurements in acetone would be mmol/L which is the same as the setting that shows you g/100ml of alcohol.”
According to this website, mmol/L cannot be simply translated to mg/L or mg/100ml:
http://unitslab.com/node/227
Are you sure the AT6000 is reading what you think it is?
Hi Aaron,
I think I got 2 duds.
Been testing the last few days and I’m always between 0.52 – 0.61
I opened the one I was gunna gift and it reads less and needs a lot more breath to function.
The issue is ….. they both WAY off. I blood test once per week (as so expensive for multiple times a day) my reading lately has been 1.8 mmol.
Last night I decided to check blood as I seemed to have dropped ketone levels a great deal from breath test.
Breath reading 0.59
Blood reading 1.9
Unfortunately mine are headed for the bin, unless you can tell me what I might be doing wrong to get such inaccurate readings?
I’ve tried all types of breathing into it but results stay the same.
Warm regards,
Sarah
Sarah, there WILL BE a BIG DIFFERENCE between a blood reading and a breath reading. I forget why but a little Internet searching should give you a scientific explanation. You have to use the breath analyzer as a reference tool to see how your ketone (acetone) level changes from day to day. Get a reading when you KNOW that you should be in a real good ketosis state and set that as your guiding (reference) point for future readings.
Thanks so much for this hack!
Got mine today blew a .87, tested hubby who doesnt do keto and he blew 0. So it works! I’m stoked
The blood ketone Meter strips were insanely expensive so to have this cheap alternative to measure ketones is awesome. Highly recommend!!!!!
Hi there, this is a great post, so thank you for that 🙂 I just received my breatho and it’s saying 0.19 on the mg/100l setting. Does this mean I am under the 0.5 needed to be in weight loss range?
Hey Candis,
I believe you are under yes. Try incorporating some IF or higher fat foods.
I’m consistently blowing 0 (I got the BACtrac) and I’ve been keto (carnivore since july) since March of this year. No cheats. No falling off the wagon.
Ugh. What gives
Hi Beth, You mentioned something about “carnivore” in your post. I’m new into this, but I’m reading a lot on it. From how I understand it, you can only have moderate protein (which includes meat), otherwise the protein converts to glucose which keeps your body from using ketones. You might be taking in to much protein to get into ketosis…
Hi I just received this device you show in the video and it either reads .00 or .02 if I wait until the end of my breath to blow. I have been Keto for 9 weeks today and my strips show moderate ketones. Does that result seem right? I also can’t figure out how to switch it from BAC to mg/L.
Hey Teresa,
There should be a button that allows you to scroll through the different options like BAC and mg/L. The result will differ from person to person, but generally, it should be relatively similar to ketones in your blood (in theory). In my experience, it always shows a little lower.
I bought a breathalyzer (AT6000 F9), but the instructions are so small that I cannot read them. I began the strict keto lifestyle April 22 2018 with no cheats. I have lost 23 1/2 lbs so far.
My strips stopped showing any results over a week ago, so I bought this. Any ideas on how to read results? Thanks so much! <3
Here are mine today (I can barely read the little letters on the screen!):
100
0.10 BAC
1.00 BAC
0.50 mg/L
Yesterday:
95
0.47
0.95
It went crazy and read "HI", where I had to remove the batteries to shut it down. Obviously, it thought I was drunk!
I have been coming back every day to see if I have an answer, but no. I do see another posted after me and got an answer. I have Googled and everything, but cannot get how to calculate ketone levels from BAC. Sigh… I have been doing Keto since April 22nd and lost 27 lbs. I never cheat.
What does the numbers mean? You show Mmol reading but not BAC or mg readings
How do you change the settings from % to mg/L?
There should be a button which you can switch between modes on the front of the device.
Lilly here again
I checked the measurement and it was NOT mg/l. I did not know we could adjust that but now that I have just by hitting the button when a result is displayed I have a much more accurate and reasonable measurement.
Thanks for making that suggestion.
Hi, Lilly here.
I am still getting a reading of 12 daily. That is in the danger zone but I do not feel like I am in metabolic danger. So I bought urine ketone strips to rule out ketoacidosis. I figured if my ketones were really high they would spill over in to the urine. My urine ketones were in the mild range.
Has anyone else run into this?
I have been following the ketogenic diet for about 6 weeks. I purchased the breathalyzer you have on your website. One day I felt terrible and the measurement was 0.06. The next morning it was 24 and I could barely drive; I thought I would have to go to the ER. I drank a lot of mineral water and increased my carbs and felt better but I have not been able to drop it below the teens. This morning it was 12. I feel fine. It made me question the validity of the measurement. Have you had any experience with this?
Hi Lilly,
What setting do you have on the readouts? I’ve got mine set to mg/L
I have it set on the same; mg/ml. I tried it again with a new plastic covering and it was zero. That made me feel better b/c sine I had felt so awful I did not want to be in ketosis again. I am going to try doing it again but more slowly and with some electrolytes on board to start with. I am a physician and I have to be able to think. I could hardly drive myself to work the last time. That’s not ok.
Hi, I got the exact same reader and it doesn’t work.
Hi Renee,
How long have you been following the ketogenic diet for?
I also got the same reader, and as you said in your video, I’m only able to get a reading if I get towards the end of my breathe before blowing into the device. Renee, maybe that’s the issue? How much variation should I expect from how I blow into the device? The device gave a reading of 0.02 but my urine strips test in the moderate range.