The K53 https://k53tests.co.za hand-held gas chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument has been used successfully for more than three decades now. The instrument has several modifications and upgrades since its first use. Its main use however has been to determine the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industrial, medical and agricultural samples. For this reason, the instrument has also been used to test the quality of tap water and industrial wastewaters.
This particular model is utilized by law enforcement agencies as a stand alone instrument for chemical analysis or for fingerprinting. It is often used in conjunction with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. The most common law enforcement agencies for which the K53 is typically utilized are the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A K53 applicant is required to pass both the hand brake and the road safety test in order to become certified as a driver.
The second edition of the manual, “The Principles of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry” contained additional topics that addressed the changes that were made to the previously approved manual, “The Principles of Road Traffic Accident Forensic Analysis”. The subjects addressed in this second version were practical driving test requirements, the need for operator certification, the need for operator registration, and methods for estimating the volume of drugs in a blood sample. All of these topics had significant bearing on the practical driving test.
The third edition of the K53 manual, “The Principles of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry for Automobile Analysis” includes many new topics. These include data conversion requirements and data acquisition for mass spectroscopy applications. Other topics address the significance of operator certification for obtaining an insurance policy for those drivers who drive commercial vehicles. There are also new sections that describe how to interpret test results and how to apply them to your particular case. In addition, this text now includes an eight-step process for determining the concentration of lead in paint for auto analysis.
Applicants will be required to take a knowledge test in order to determine if they meet the minimum educational and operating requirements for obtaining their driver’s license. For applicants who do not pass this knowledge test, they must complete and pass a Substitute Decision. Once an applicant has passed the Substitute Decision and understands the contents of the document, he or she can apply to the traffic department to receive a Temporary Traffic Order (TOS).
If a person fails the first two tests, he or she will be required to take the third test, which is an interior inspection. The applicant can obtain a refund or a replacement vehicle if the interior inspection is a “fail” in finding the source of the error. K53 has created specific instructions for the proper performance of the three tests in its manual, “The Principles of Inspecting and Exterior Inspection,” which is available from the K53 website.