Drug and DNA testing lab听AlphaBiolabs听is听to recruit 16听staff and invest 拢400,000 in new equipment to cater for its increased workload.听
The Warrington-based testing company听said a听surge in drug and alcohol testing for child protection cases during lockdown has led听it to add听five scientists, four account managers and seven sample collectors听to its team to accommodate its growth.听
Since lockdown began, the firm reports a rise of 87%听in demand for its services for child protection cases involving local authorities, social workers and family law courts.听
The firm, which previously provided testing to the Jeremy Kyle show, has added听biological听safety cabinets, toxicology analysis instrumentation and听personal protection equipment听(PPE)听for laboratory staff and sample collectors.听
Director Rachel Davenport said the company is continuing to听expand its workforce, with nine听more听sample collectors and two additional scientists听currently听being recruited.听
The company carries out听testing on hair, oral fluid, urine and nail clipping samples听for听signs of听drug and alcohol use.听听
It is also one of just a few companies operating in the family law sector that听supplies the SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring ankle bracelet, dubbed the 鈥榮obriety tag鈥�.听
It is used by councils, the courts and child protection agencies to obtain information about the frequency and pattern of clients鈥� drinking听habits.听
Recent figures show the number of people contacting the National Association for Children of Alcoholics during lockdown via its helplines and emails has doubled.听听
An increasing number have come from children whose parents have started to drink again, leading to youngsters facing abuse and aggression and left feeling frightened and trapped.听
Davenport commented: 鈥淥ur laboratory听has remained open throughout lockdown听as a result of extensive forward planning,听and our agility means we have been able to support the听family law听sector by rapidly adapting to the changing circumstances.听听
鈥�We put a lot of time into planning how we would continue to deliver our services听while ensuring all safety protocols were followed.听
鈥淯rgent family law cases have continued during this period and, as key workers, the professionals involved have done an amazing job in dealing with them and听protecting vulnerable children.鈥�听