DNA and workplace drug and alcohol testing company AlphaBiolabs has opened its first walk-in clinic in Wales.
The company is providing its full range of DNA and drug and alcohol testing services from the new base in Cardiff.
Wales is one of AlphaBiolabs’ fastest-growing areas, with 26 per cent of its total DNA tests coming from there, from members of the public and local authorities.
Cardiff is the fourth busiest UK city for visits to AlphaBiolabs’ website and its paternity test kits are sold at branches of Home Bargains across Wales.
Managing director David Thomas said:
“We have a strong history of providing testing services to Wales-based customers and have seen a significant increase in demand over the last few years.
“We also recently won a place on the framework for DNA and drug and alcohol testing for local authorities in Wales, so we felt it was time to establish a permanent presence there to assist our loyal customer base more effectively.
“The new clinic is a one-stop shop for our full range of analytical testing services, offering members of the public, local authorities and employers a convenient location to access these.”
The clinic is based at the Grange Medical Practice on Bishop Street in Grangetown.
DNA relationship tests available there include paternity, maternity, sibling, grandparent, aunt and uncle and twins. AlphaBiolabs’ laboratory in Warrington, to where all samples are sent, offers results the same day or the next working day.
As well as testing for private individuals and families, DNA tests can be arranged for legal purposes, such as in immigration cases. The legal tests follow strict chain of custody conditions and the results are admissible to the courts, the Ministry of Justice, HM Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration.
The company’s non-invasive prenatal test, which determines the paternity of a baby before birth, is also available. Demand for this test has increased by 376 per cent in Wales over the past 12 months.
AlphaBiolabs is also providing workplace drug and alcohol testing services from the Cardiff clinic. Samples of breath, hair, blood, nails, urine and oral fluids can all be used for testing.
David said companies in Wales are becoming more proactive in this field, undertaking more tests on employees and suppliers.
In addition, the clinic offers a service for the fitting of the SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring ankle bracelet and the monitoring of results. The bracelet tests for the presence of consumed alcohol in perspiration every 30 minutes. The system is used by local authorities, the courts and child protection agencies to obtain information.
AlphaBiolabs’ laboratory in Warrington, to where all samples are sent, offers results the same day or the next working day.
David added:
“As the only UK lab to provide prenatal paternity testing, and the fastest relationship DNA testing available, it makes sense to open the new clinic to support our Welsh customers.”
No appointment is necessary to attend the new clinic, although customers need to have their case registered with the company. A trained sample collector is on site to undertake the required test.
The new clinic takes the number of walk-in centres across AlphaBiolabs’ UK network to 11.
