FTS provides specialist Drug, Alcohol & DNA toxicology services and expert interpretation for Family Law and Child Care Proceedings. 

We offer comprehensive forensic toxicology services, laboratory analysis and expert opinion evidence tailored for family court cases. Our forensic lab is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and Lab 51 (toxicology lab) standards. We are also certified by the Society of Hair Testing and the Society of Toxicological Forensic Chemistry. 

Turnaround Times 

  • Sample collection: Within 24-48 hours 
  • Analysis & expert reports: Approx. 7 working days 
  • Expedited: Faster turnaround available upon request  

Why choose FTS to support your case? 

We support legal teams and social workers, helping the judiciary to make informed decisions about the welfare of a child. FTS has an industry-leading approach: 

  • Expert Opinion & Interpretation: Report all findings such as environmental contamination and hair treatments, not just lab test results. This ensures more accurate interpretation than results using cut-off levels, which can cause misleading and biased results. 
  • Detailed client questionnaires: Questionnaires are completed before sample collection to understand key information about each client and support the right outcome with the full context of a case. 
  • Flexible & discreet collection: Nationwide Forensic Investigation Officers, who are qualified phlebotomists trained in collecting blood, hair, nail, and urine samples. They travel in discreet mobile collection clinic vans, with a safe and sterile environment for full chain of custody. 
  • Comply with High Court Guidance & Court of Appeal guidance (Re D and Re H): Results interpreted with the full context of the case and all associated influencing factors, rather than relying on cut-off levels.
  • Support Public Law Outline (PLO) process: Local Authorities can navigate the PLO process more efficiently, protect safeguarding concerns and avoid misleading results. This ensures authorities remain as efficient and cost-effective as possible. 
  • Extensive capacity for novel psychoactive drugs: Routinely analyse up to 42* compounds, exceeding the ‘standard’ drugs panel, and further tests for over 2,000 illicit and prescribed substances. 
  • Free training & resources: Our resources help you to understand why cut-off levels are so problematic and how to instruct and challenge disputed hair strand test results. 

 * not all 42 from the DOA panel are UKAS accredited 

Instruct an Expert 

Choose FTS for expert toxicology services that prioritise justice and deliver results you can rely on.