Legal Definitions - interferant

Definition: An interferant is something that disrupts or hinders the proper functioning of a chemical analysis. It can refer to a chemical contaminant that makes the results of a blood, breath, or urine test unreliable. In the context of patents, an interferant is a party involved in an interference proceeding in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

• A person who has consumed alcohol before taking a breathalyzer test may produce a false positive result due to the presence of alcohol, which acts as an interferant.
• In a patent dispute, an interferant is a party who challenges the validity of a patent application or an issued patent.

These examples illustrate how an interferant can negatively impact the accuracy and reliability of a chemical analysis or a patent application. In both cases, the interferant can introduce errors or uncertainties that make it difficult to determine the true outcome or validity of the test or application.