UK Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Expands Accredited Drug Testing for Criminal Investigations

Kingston University has highlighted how its specialist forensic toxicology laboratory is supporting British police investigations through accredited drug and alcohol testing, including cases involving suspicious deaths, sexual assaults, and road traffic incidents.

In an announcement published on November 5, 2026, the university detailed the work of Kingston Analytical Services Toxicology (KAST), an independent testing facility that provides scientific analysis and expert interpretation for law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, and healthcare providers.

The laboratory examines biological samples, including blood and urine, for substances such as cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and alcohol.

KAST has recently received additional accreditation covering drug-driving and alcohol-related forensic examinations under the ISO/IEC 17025 international laboratory standard.

The laboratory is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and operates in accordance with the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice.

One important area of its work involves Alcohol Technical Defence calculations, which help experts evaluate complex situations involving alcohol consumption after an incident or estimates of earlier blood alcohol concentrations.

Such calculations can become relevant when investigators must establish whether a driver exceeded legal alcohol limits at a particular time.

However, toxicology results require careful interpretation. The presence of a substance in a biological sample does not automatically establish impairment, the exact time of consumption, or the circumstances surrounding an alleged offence.

The university also reported that researchers at the laboratory are developing more cost-effective approaches for detecting synthetic cannabinoids and expanding drug screening capabilities.

Laboratory director Professor Brian Rooney emphasized the importance of providing scientifically reliable testing and interpretation for both prosecution and defence cases.

The announcement describes the laboratory's existing services and recent accreditation developments rather than a newly published experimental discovery.

Its work illustrates how validated analytical methods, independent expertise, and clearly explained scientific findings contribute to the reliability of toxicological evidence presented in court.