Basis of Presentation, Nature of Operations and Going Concern	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Basisof Presentation Natureof Operationsand Going Concern [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation Nature of Operations and Going Concern	1. Basis of presentation, nature of operations and going concern ALR Technologies Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada on March 24, 1987. The Company has developed a compliance monitoring system that will allow for HCPs to remotely monitor patient health conditions and provide patient health management. On October 17, 2011, the Company announced that it had received Section 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration for its Health-e-Connect System. The Company is currently seeking pilot programs to deploy its product. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) in U.S. dollars and on a going concern basis, which presumes the realization of assets and the discharge of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of operations for the foreseeable future. Several adverse conditions cast substantial doubt on the validity of this assumption. The Company has incurred significant losses over the past several fiscal years (2019 - $9,005,537; 2018 - $4,122,133), is currently unable to self-finance its operations, has a working capital deficit of $31,088,266 (2018 - $28,394,986), accumulated deficit of $87,655,745 (2018 - $78,650,208), limited resources, no source of operating cash flow, and no assurance that sufficient funding will be available to conduct continued product development activities. If the Company is able to finance its required product development activities, there is no assurance the Company’s current projects will be commercially viable or profitable. The Company has debts comprised of accounts payable and accrued liabilities, interest payable, lines of credit and promissory notes payable totaling $31,090,104 (2018 - $28,398,364) currently due, due on demand or considered delinquent. There is no assurance that the Company will not face additional legal action from creditors regarding delinquent accounts payable, promissory notes payable and interest payable. Any one or a combination of the above conditions could result in the failure of the business and cause the Company to cease operations. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the continued financial support of its creditors and its ability to obtain financing to fund working capital and overhead requirements, fund the development of the Company’s product line, and ultimately, the Company’s ability to achieve profitable operations and repay overdue obligations. Management has obtained short-term financing from related parties through line of credit facilities with available borrowing in principal amount up to $12,300,000. As of December 31, 2019, the total principal balance outstanding was $11,757,325. The resolution of whether the Company is able to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the realization of management’s plans. When additional financing is required, the Company plans to raise needed capital through the exercise of share options and by future common share private placements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise any additional debt or equity capital from the sources described above, or that the lenders in the line of credit arrangements will maintain the availability of borrowing from the line. If management is unsuccessful in obtaining short-term financing or achieving long-term profitable operations, the Company will be required to cease operations. All of the Company’s debt is either due on demand or is in default, while continuing to accrue interest at its stated rates. The Company will seek to obtain creditors’ consents to delay repayment of the outstanding promissory notes payable and related interest thereto, until it is able to replace this financing with funds generated by operations, recapitalization with replacement debt or from equity financings through private placements. While some of the Company’s creditors have agreed to extend repayment deadlines in the past, there is no assurance that they will continue to do so in the future. In the past, creditors have successfully commenced legal action against the Company to recover debts outstanding. In those instances, the Company was able to obtain financing from related parties to cover the verdict or settlement; however, there is no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain the same financing in the future. If the Company is unsuccessful in obtaining financing to cover any potential verdicts or settlements, the Company will be required to cease operations. The Company’s activities will necessitate significant uses of working capital beyond 2019. Additionally, the Company’s capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the success of the Company’s continued product development and distribution efforts. The Company plans to continue financing its operations with the lines of credit it has available. There is no assurance that the Company’s activities will generate sufficient revenues to sustain its operations without additional capital or if additional capital is needed, that such funds, if available, will be obtainable on terms satisfactory to the Company.

Basis of Presentation, Nature of Operations and Going Concern

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Basisof Presentation Natureof Operationsand Going Concern [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation Nature of Operations and Going Concern

1. Basis of presentation, nature of operations and going concern

ALR Technologies Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada on March 24, 1987. The Company has developed a compliance monitoring system that will allow for HCPs to remotely monitor patient health conditions and provide patient health management. On October 17, 2011, the Company announced that it had received Section 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration for its Health-e-Connect System. The Company is currently seeking pilot programs to deploy its product.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) in U.S. dollars and on a going concern basis, which presumes the realization of assets and the discharge of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of operations for the foreseeable future. Several adverse conditions cast substantial doubt on the validity of this assumption. The Company has incurred significant losses over the past several fiscal years (2019 - $9,005,537; 2018 - $4,122,133), is currently unable to self-finance its operations, has a working capital deficit of $31,088,266 (2018 - $28,394,986), accumulated deficit of $87,655,745 (2018 - $78,650,208), limited resources, no source of operating cash flow, and no assurance that sufficient funding will be available to conduct continued product development activities. If the Company is able to finance its required product development activities, there is no assurance the Company’s current projects will be commercially viable or profitable. The Company has debts comprised of accounts payable and accrued liabilities, interest payable, lines of credit and promissory notes payable totaling $31,090,104 (2018 - $28,398,364) currently due, due on demand or considered delinquent. There is no assurance that the Company will not face additional legal action from creditors regarding delinquent accounts payable, promissory notes payable and interest payable. Any one or a combination of the above conditions could result in the failure of the business and cause the Company to cease operations.

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the continued financial support of its creditors and its ability to obtain financing to fund working capital and overhead requirements, fund the development of the Company’s product line, and ultimately, the Company’s ability to achieve profitable operations and repay overdue obligations. Management has obtained short-term financing from related parties through line of credit facilities with available borrowing in principal amount up to $12,300,000. As of December 31, 2019, the total principal balance outstanding was $11,757,325. The resolution of whether the Company is able to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the realization of management’s plans. When additional financing is required, the Company plans to raise needed capital through the exercise of share options and by future common share private placements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise any additional debt or equity capital from the sources described above, or that the lenders in the line of credit arrangements will maintain the availability of borrowing from the line. If management is unsuccessful in obtaining short-term financing or achieving long-term profitable operations, the Company will be required to cease operations.

All of the Company’s debt is either due on demand or is in default, while continuing to accrue interest at its stated rates. The Company will seek to obtain creditors’ consents to delay repayment of the outstanding promissory notes payable and related interest thereto, until it is able to replace this financing with funds generated by operations, recapitalization with replacement debt or from equity financings through private placements. While some of the Company’s creditors have agreed to extend repayment deadlines in the past, there is no assurance that they will continue to do so in the future. In the past, creditors have successfully commenced legal action against the Company to recover debts outstanding. In those instances, the Company was able to obtain financing from related parties to cover the verdict or settlement; however, there is no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain the same financing in the future. If the Company is unsuccessful in obtaining financing to cover any potential verdicts or settlements, the Company will be required to cease operations.

The Company’s activities will necessitate significant uses of working capital beyond 2019. Additionally, the Company’s capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the success of the Company’s continued product development and distribution efforts. The Company plans to continue financing its operations with the lines of credit it has available.

There is no assurance that the Company’s activities will generate sufficient revenues to sustain its operations without additional capital or if additional capital is needed, that such funds, if available, will be obtainable on terms satisfactory to the Company.