The Hair Testing Market in the UK
Tuesday 08 April 2014
As Trimega Laboratories goes into administration, Alere Toxicology outlines the ongoing pressures on hair testing laboratories and the potential impact on current and upcoming court cases.
Last year the Government reformed the legal aid system in England and Wales in a renewed effort to reduce public spending and deliver savings of £220 million per year by 2018/19. In December 2013, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) responded by introducing fresh cuts to the civil legal aid remuneration rates. This has meant that whilst the demand for high quality expert services remains high there is now less funding available.
Further changes in the hair testing market can be expected over the coming weeks with the announcement that Trimega Laboratories, a major player in the hair testing market, has gone into administration. This will force a significant number of family solicitors using Trimega’s hair testing services to find a new provider.
It is likely that hair testing laboratories are going to see a sharp uplift in sample volumes. Providers without robust processes and sufficient investment in operational efficiencies may experience significant service disruption over the next few months. Due to Alere Toxicology’s focused effort on improving service levels and implementing a pricing structure that is aligned with LAA guidelines, we are perfectly positioned to support affected Trimega clients both now and in the future.
Investing in the future
Alere Toxicology’s hair testing service was founded as TrichoTech in 1993 and has been used by courts for over 20 years.
In the latter part of 2013, Alere Toxicology consolidated its hair testing laboratory into its headquarters in Oxfordshire. This created a centre of excellence and provided an opportunity to optimise the quality of products and services delivered to customers. As a subsidiary company of Alere Inc. we have the financial stability required to continue to invest in our laboratory and services so that we can sustainably support all of our customers.
Alere Toxicology has specialist teams within UK based, world-class laboratories that integrate around the single binding philosophy that ‘Behind every test is a life’. We pride ourselves on the calibre, qualification and professionalism of our staff. From our dedicated Customer Service Teams through to our industry leading Toxicologists, we have some of the most highly qualified, experienced and committed experts in the industry.
Our comprehensive accreditations, market leading services and highly competitive pricing have resulted in more than 5,000 customers worldwide choosing us as a trusted and reliable partner.