Following the publication of LAB 51 UKAS Accreditation of Laboratories Performing Analysis of Toxicology Samples and the 1 June 2021 Technical Bulletin LAB 51 – Laboratories Performing Analysis of Toxicology Samples, this bulletin provides further clarification regarding which toxicology testing activities fall within the scope of LAB 51 so that laboratories can determine whether it applies to them and whether they fall within the remit of LAB 51 and need to complete the associated Gap Analysis and Declaration forms.
Activities included within the scope of LAB 51 include the analysis of samples in relation to:
- Workplace testing for drugs and drug metabolites (blood, urine, hair, oral fluids and other associated matrices)
- Custody cases
- Drink / drug driving (S5a Road Traffic Act 1988)
- Forensic medical examination in cases of alleged sexual assault
- Post-mortem work where criminal investigation is the primary purpose of test request
More information on the scope of forensic testing can be found in FSR-C-100 The Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice and Conduct for Forensic Science Providers and Practitioners in the Criminal Justice System. Link to Codes of Practice and Conduct on the GOV.UK website.
UKAS will be hosting a webinar on LAB 51 UKAS Accreditation of Laboratories Performing Analysis of Toxicology Samples on 20 July 2021. Customer and stakeholder invitations to this webinar will be sent out shortly. Considering the date of the webinar being after the initial due date for the submission of the gap analysis, UKAS has revised the due date for both the gap analysis and the declaration:
Completed gap analysis submission date – 02 August 2021
Completed declaration submission date – 31 August 2021
If you require any further clarification on whether LAB 51 applies to your laboratory, please contact your Assessment Manager.
A pdf version of this Bulletin can be downloaded here.