
Emerging Drug Trends in the UK: Testing for new substances in the family courts
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) there were “5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales in 2023 - the highest number since records began in 1993 and 1...

Hair Testing in the Family Court – Resolution Podcast
Podcast highlights miscarriages of justice in hair strand testing
In the latest Resolution podcast episode, Sarah Branson (Coram Chambers) and Professor James Coulson (Cardiff University) discuss t...

FTS co-presents Family Law Bar Association (FLBA) lecture on hair strand testing practice
Paul Hunter, Technical Director and a specialist in drug testing at FTS recently joined Sarah Branson, a barrister at Coram Chambers, to speak about the problems with current hair strand testing pract...

What’s next for hair strand testing in the family justice system?
What next for hair strand testing in the family justice system: Re D (Children Interim Care Order Hair Strand Testing)
Sarah Branson, Barrister, Coram Chambers
Sarah Branson is a barrister a...

What are the benefits and challenges of hair strand testing for alcohol use biomarkers?
The Science and Significance of Hair Strand Testing for
Alcohol Use
In forensic toxicology, the analysis of alcohol consumption is crucial in various legal and clinical contexts. Forensic Testing ...

Recent scientific developments in hair strand testing and racial bias in current practices of hair strand testing
Forensic Testing Service (FTS) were delighted to be asked to support Sarah Branson, accomplished Family Barrister from Coram Chambers, London, in developing her latest, very interesting article focusi...

Fentanyl Alert – latest article
The UK is bracing itself for an epidemic of a drug that kills more Americans than cancer, heart disease or guns.
With heroin in potential short supply, there is a possibility that users will look t...

HOW FTS IS SUPPORTING DELIVERY OF PLO DEADLINES
HOW FTS IS SUPPORTING DELIVERY OF PLO DEADLINES
We understand the challenges our customers face when working within the 26 week timeframe for PLOs. When utilising FTS for your drug/alcoho...

TESTING FOR SPICE, MONKEY DUST AND OTHER SYNTHETIC DRUGS – A WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDING?
Synthetic drugs such as Spice and Monkey Dust are amongst the most difficult substances to detect in the field of drug testing, due to their ever-evolving compounds. This is problematic for those work...

Duckingham Palace
For the second year running FTS have provided luxury accommodation for our resident ducks. They have now moved in to the their new home ‘Duckingham Palace’ and have laid eggs. We have webcams insi...