Trimega Laboratories has now published a series of online video answers which address the most frequently raised questions on the subjects of Hair Drug Testing, Hair Alcohol Testing, Blood Alcohol Testing, Adoption Testing and Hair Steroid Testing.  Access our website to watch and listen to one of our scientists explain the answers to some seemingly complex questions in laymans terms.

Hair strand testing as a practice is now the most commonly applied testing method for substance misuse in the UK Courts system and we are pleased to make the science accessible to everyone.  The videos alongside other relevant clips can also be found on our YouTube channel or via our Facebook page.

On the last day of his tour of the Latin American country, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, has revealed £2.5 billion worth of business deals have been signed between British and Brazilian companies.

The Liberal Democrat leader confirmed yesterday a partnership between Trimega Laboratories and Laboratório Sodré of São Paulo, Brazil, to conduct tests on Brazilian hair samples for evidence of drug misuse. Trimega will test hair samples for the Brazilian police force at its state-of-the art laboratory based in Manchester.  Using the latest mass spectrometry techniques Trimega will review the hair for a comprehensive range of drugs, including amphetamines, crack, cocaine, marijuana and other opiates. The two companies were originally introduced by UK Trade Investment (UKTI), the UK’s leading body for promoting UK exports.

The Deputy Prime Minister feels that trade links between the two countries will provide a boost to the British economy. Commenting on the last two days, Mr Clegg said “Trade equals jobs, and that is what the people of the UK want, and the people of Brazil too.”  He further added “Trade ensures nations have a stake in each other’s success, in working together peacefully, constructively and towards the same goals. It’s how we make a real difference for our citizens.”

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, today highlighted Trimega Laboratories’ investment in Brazil during a keynote speech in Brasilia during the UK trade delegation’s visit to the country. Trimega, one of the world’s leading companies for testing hair for substance abuse, has signed a partnership with Laboratório Sodré of São Paulo, Brazil, to conduct tests on Brazilian hair samples for evidence of drug misuse. Trimega also plans to open a Brazilian “Super Laboratory” for hair drug and alcohol testing in the next 18 months.

Initially, Trimega will test hair samples for the Brazilian police force at its state-of-the art laboratory in Manchester, which was opened in February, following a £1m (R$2.6m) investment by the company. Trimega will review the hair for a comprehensive range of drugs, including amphetamines, crack, cocaine, marijuana and other opiates.

UK Trade Investment, the UK’s leading body for promoting UK exports, introduced Trimega to Laboratório Sodré.

John Doddrell, Director of UK Trade & Investment in Brazil, said: “Trimega is an established UK leader for drug and alcohol testing of hair. We are very pleased to have helped a British company with such cutting edge capacity to find a valuable Brazilian partner, and to develop bilateral cooperation in science and business between the two countries.”

Avi Lasarow, CEO of Trimega Laboratories, said: “We are delighted to partner with Laboratório Sodré and that the Deputy Prime Minister spoke about our investment in Brazil during his speech in Brasilia. We look forward to the first samples from Brazil arriving in our Manchester laboratory, developing Brazil’s first superlab for drug and alcohol testing compliance, and creating jobs for the local economy.”

Mr. Sodré, CEO of Laboratório Sodré, said: “Trimega Laboratories is one of the most advanced laboratories of its kind in the world, with a proven track record of working with governments, the police, the aviation industry and other sectors. The company’s experience and its willingness to work closely with us, together with its vision of transferring its knowledge to us, made Trimega the natural partner.”

Hair drug testing is a revolutionary method of testing for drugs using hair strands. It not only determines the presence of an illegal substance, but can also provide an accurate historical record of substance misuse. This helps in differentiating between a one-off user and a chronic substance abuser. Hair drug testing covers up to 12 months depending on the type and length of hair of the donor. More traditional forms of testing, such as analysis of urine and blood, can provide a record of consumption of only the previous three days and four to six weeks, respectively. Approximately 1.3cm of hair is required for one month of results.

Trimega has the latest mass spectrometry techniques to accurately determine drug usage to very small detectable levels, including High Performance Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) and the gas chromatographic equivalent (GC/MS/MS). These techniques are often referred to as the ‘Platinum Standard’ when compared with traditional GC/MS analysis, and enable analysis of positive and negative results. Most laboratories in the USA do not combine both testing techniques.

Trimega already tests for nearly half of the UK market for hair tests, working mostly with the legal sector and social services, and is growing rapidly.

The Cabinet Office’s announcement about the Deputy Prime Minister’s speech can be seen at the following link: http://www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/new-era-uk-brazil-relations.

There is evidently more and more interest in the health issues arising when cocaine and alcohol are combined as some of our Cocaethylene hair drug testing data was published in yesterday’s Observer. Watch out for more on this site about the regional breakdown of stats as we map out the extent of the problem in the UK.

More on the rising tide of danger presented by cocaethylene in this story using NHS figures to show that cocaine addiction among the young has risen by three quarters in just three years. Our own research from Trimega Laboratories’ hair drug testing programme, which we are about to publish, shows that 45% of cocaine users test positive to cocaethylene. In some parts of the country it is as high as 60%.