The Ministry of Justice is responsible for accrediting bodies that may carry out scientific tests for parentage in accordance with a direction made by a court.
Find out more here:- http://www.justice.gov.u k/about/paternitytesting.co.uk
Drug Test
Our service relates to Drug of Abuse testing and to the testing for (often legitimate) use of Over the Counter (OTC) and prescribed medications, which may impair bodily function.
We offer tests for usage of cocaine, heroin, methadone, amphetamines, benzodiazepines and cannabis together with tests for other drug substances, as required.
We offer tests for usage of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methadone, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis and buprenorphine together with tests for other drug substances, as required.
We report absolute amounts of drug substance or of a diagnostic metabolite in a hair sample.
We report absolute amounts of drug substance or its diagnostic metabolite in a hair sample. This can be used as evidence to suggest use of these substances over a 3 month period. We also process urine, oral (cheek cell) swab and blood samples for drug identification and drug quantitation.
This can be used as evidence to suggest use of these substances over a 3 month period.
Drug testing FAQs
Q. Which Drugs of Abuse do we test for?
A. We offer tests for usage of cocaine, heroin, methadone, amphetamines, benzodiazepines and cannabis in the first instance. Tests for other drug substances are available by discussion with us of the particular case.
Q. Can we test for other drugs including over the counter, prescription, new party drugs?
A. Our technical analysis capability extends to any drug in the small molecule class and we can develop rapidly assays for drugs which may be involved.
In general however, these are specific positive tests for the presence or absence of a given substance.
The plethora of drug substances now in use, including the new party drugs, means that we would prefer to have an indication as to the likely substance, before we apply one of our existing assays or develop a new one. However, we are by arrangement, able to screen for use of drug substances which are unusual.
Q. What does a positive test results mean?
A. A positive result in a hair strand test indicates that the person has either been using or has been exposed to the drug in question. We cannot determine the precise time or extent of exposure using this technology and it should be noted that a negative result does not indicate that the person has not been using or has not been exposed to the drug.
Collection of the hair sample
As a matter of courtesy to the subject and where possible, we ask for you to obtain the consent of the provider of the hair and if a minor is involved, then the consent of the person with parental responsibility should be obtained.
Clearly, if a court order or other legal documentation/direction is in place, we adhere to the provisions therein.
Sample collection will be via either one of our own staff or by one of the trained medical professionals appointed for this purpose.
The sample taken will be a “tuft” of hair approximately 5mm in diameter and will be greater than 3 cm long, starting from the scalp at the back of the head. It will be collected into an appropriate evidence bag labelled according to our strict quality control procedures.
Since intensive bleaching or otherwise dying hair can affect the results by leaching and thus leading to false negatives, we will take a view on the applicability of the sample before sampling.