Medico-Legal Profession
ScreenSafe UK provides world leading drug and alcohol testing services to medico-legal professions for use in family, criminal law, child protection and social services matters. Our laboratory services have been testing for drugs of abuse for over 27 years and are the pioneer of modern techniques. Hair testing is unique in its ability to look back months rather than days at drug use, making it essential in child residence, protection orders, family and criminal cases etc. By providing information on exposure to drugs over time, hair analysis can be useful in verifying self-reported histories of drug use in any situation in which a past history of drug use is desired. During controlled tests of hair, a drug user is not able to hide the fact that they abuse drugs. Once ingested, the drug remains in the hair as a permanent record. All our testing methods, procedures and systems have been validated to at least UKAS standards or equivalent. Many have been published in peer-review journals such as the Forensic Science International (available on the internet). Our team, which includes the President of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists and key members of the Society of Hair Testing, has published over 100 articles on this topic and also many “industry-used” reference books.

We offer the UK’s most accurate and widest range of analysis available for Drugs and Alcohol. We will not sacrifice quality for cost. The laboratory’s pioneering techniques are celebrated worldwide and lead the way where other’s follow. In essence, our laboratory services are approximately 4 years ahead of any UK laboratory. For example, our laboratory has been analyzing for Alcohol in hair for almost a decade now. Due to the high standing of the laboratory director, the laboratory has access and uses only leading edge technology equipment. This results in other UK laboratories often using our laboratory services where they cannot provide sensitive enough testing and analysis methods.

We can offer the same level of sensitivity and detection as offered by other UK companies (we call this our “standard panel”) which we do so you can compare “like for like”, but can also offer you higher sensitivity tests on a wider range of substances (we call this our “non-standard panel”). For example we can detect a group of Benzodiazepines that are not included in other companies’ analysis. We can also detect much lower levels of Cannabis using our specific test for THC-COOH. This is a far more sensitive than the standard analysis for Cannabis offered by other UK laboratories (and the on we include in our standard panel). This fine detail can often be crucial in a case. Our World leading quality and reputation means we are often the choice for “high profile” cases where dependability on results and expert witness is a pre-requisite. This has included successful challenges of hair analysis results provided by other companies (see “Expert Witness Service” section).

We also provide a psychiatrist service, specializing in the area of drug, alcohol and substance abuse. Referrals to this service often result in a higher level of understanding of how long term results may impact on an individual’s life and their role in the family unit. See the “Specialist Psychiatric Services” section for further information.

Most Common Drugs Tested For

Please note that we can also test other substances including Steroids, Ketamine, Buprenorphine, LSD, GHB, Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Fentanyl, Meperidine, Khat, Psilocine, Phencyclidine and Alcohol (to detect abuse levels). Some of these are specialist tests that are exclusive to our laboratory. Please contact us to discuss any specific requirements you may have. Some of these substances cannot be detected effectively by the normal ELISA screening method and will therefore require direct chromatographic methods of analysis to give a legally defensible result. If it can be tested for we can do it!!

Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious social problems throughout the world. Our scientists had focussed their studies over many years to find suitable markers to establish chronic alcohol consumption. Hair analysis has proved its ability in establishing consumption of drugs of abuse over a period of time. Similarly, when we analyse the alcohol markers in hair samples, we can establish alcohol consumption over periods of time, dependent on the length of the hair. Due to our superior laboratory facilities, ScreenSafe UK is the ONLY company in the UK and Ireland capable of offering this UNIQUE superior, accurate and reliable way of analyzing hair for alcohol use. With almost 10 years history of testing for alcohol in hair, our experience is second to none.

Diagnosis of excessive alcohol consumption is an important task from a medical/legal point of view. Markers of alcohol consumption are ethylglucuronide, and phosphatidylethanol or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). Detection of ethylglucuronide is always associated with alcohol consumption. We use 50pg/mg as a positive cut-off level. With this cut-off level, we can identify (with no false negatives) a regular drinker. The forensic definition of a regular drinker is the equivalent of 6.25 units of alcohol per day. A typical 3cm sample of hair will show a history of the past 3 months. We can segment the hair sample to give a month by month account of chronic alcohol consumption. This will show either an increase or decrease over time.

Example Case Study
Two parents fighting for custody of their child, who had been taken into care, were requested to give a hair sample for alcohol analysis. A sample of head hair was taken from each parent under strict chain of custody conditions. The samples were analysed to determine if their alcohol abuse had reduced over the past three months. Results were shown on a month by month basis by sectioning the samples into 1cm sections. The results proved that the wife had a negative result, but as alleged the husband’s alcohol in-take had remained at a chronic level over the tested period.

As part of our industry leading package, we also offer our own (non-subcontracted) professional and competent collection service 24 hours a day, 365 days per year (see our section on "Collection Service"). Using this service will ensure a legally defensible Chain of Custody, guaranteeing that enough hair is taken and that forms are completed correctly.

An “Expert Witness Statement” is usually required in most cases. This will provide essential support at court via a detailed explanation of positive results. If you need further clarification or explanation then just ask. Our friendly team of experts are on hand to assist you, at no extra charge, in every part of your case. An “attendance at court” service is also available if required.

Our customer service level is of the highest, and we guarantee will not be beaten (see “testimonials”). Quotes are usually returned within 1-2hrs of receiving your “quotation request form” (please call 08450 505590 to discuss your requirements or send an email. If you have never used our services before, we can set up a customer credit account with you in a matter of minutes, and have everything arranged for you within a couple of hours, leaving you to get on with what you do best. Our service includes quick, secure, accurate and reliable (legally defensible) results reporting within 10 working days of receipt of sample. For those who need something quicker, a “Fast-Track” service is available.

NOT ALL TESTING IS THE SAME. If you or your client wishes to benefit from the highest quality of analysis and customer service available in the UK today delivering your results on time, then please contact our friendly, dedicated and professional Medico-Legal team on 08450 505590 or via email.