Ketamine: the value of confirmatory testing and experts

The use of ketamine is on the rise in the UK, particularly among young people. Recent media reports have highlighted the drug’s devastating impact on mental and physical health, such as its irreversible damage to the bladder.

The growing public concern about ketamine has also brought forensic testing into focus. In the family courts, forensic toxicology plays a vital role in determining patterns of drug use.

However, not all tests are created equal. A recent case that FTS was involved in highlights this perfectly, when a court was potentially misled about results.

When Urine Testing Falls Short

In this case, urine testing for ketamine had been performed for a parent and had come back negative. Urine testing in this case was a presumptive test, a form of screening testing for sweat, saliva and urine that is frequently used by employers, prisons and for court cases because it is generally quick and cheap to perform.

Questioned in court about how long urine tests can detect drugs for, a rehabilitation centre worker stated that the ketamine urine screening test covered a 14-day detection window.

While this claim might be true for certain confirmatory methods not using cut-off levels, FTS’ review of the testing revealed a different story. The urine test performed by the rehabilitation centre, which had been outsourced, gave limited information.

Documentation for the specific test from the outsourced lab used revealed a much shorter detection time of only 1 to 3 days. The negative test results were taken at face value, potentially overstating the evidence and misleading the courts.

The Value of Hair Strand Analysis

At FTS, we believe that care proceedings deserve the most rigorous and reliable evidence possible.

This is why we specialise in confirmatory hair testing, which provides a long term, verifiable record of someone’s drug use over weeks and months, not just days. In this case, our hair strand analysis revealed a pattern of ongoing ketamine use that the urine testing missed.

Hair testing is a highly accurate method for detecting ketamine and its metabolites, and because FTS interprets all findings in the context of the case, our expert reports provide the court with evidence that is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” FTS can also provide expert witnesses to explain results in court proceedings.

This case is also a powerful reminder that relying on imprecise information from non-experts can have severe consequences in family court proceedings. As we have noted before, UK law clearly states that hair strand analysis is to be treated not as a binary “yes or no” test, but as a form of expert opinion evidence.

An expert before the court must explain the testing process, record the results, clearly explain their possible significance, and then fully and faithfully report all findings.

FTS boasts its own UKAS-accredited testing laboratory, and our expert reports are designed specifically to meet the high standards of the family court system.

By providing a full forensic investigation and contextualising all findings, we ensure that the courts are equipped with the precise, reliable data needed to make informed decisions.

Instruct Us

When you instruct FTS expert services, you can be confident that you will get the full context of the case every time, in a way that respects and upholds the rigour required by law.

To benefit from FTS’ services, contact us on 01924 480 272 or email expert@forensic-testing.co.uk