Toxicology Services Drug and Alcohol Testing

The GPhC have procured the provision of Toxicology Services - Drug and Alcohol Testing. This Contract has been awarded to 1 Tenderer(s)/Service Provider(s); and scope of services include:

o Accreditation

1. ISO 17025.

o Specimen Collection

1. To supply Phlebotomists and Specimen Collectors -throughout Great Britain- to collect donor samples: hair, nail and blood. N.B. samples are to be collected at a donors' home residence, or a neutral site as determined by the Service Provider.
2. Application of appropriate and effective arrangements for ensuring donor requests for reasonable adjustments may be accommodated.
3. Application of appropriate and effective measures/processes/procedures for assuring safe, sterile and uncontaminated sample collection, storage and transportation practices.
4. Application of appropriate and consistent sample labelling/indexing practices.
5. Application of appropriate chain of custody practices/measures/processes/procedures.

o Examination

1. ISO 15189 accreditation, or appropriate medical laboratory quality and competence policies and procedures in place, which are compliant with ISO 15189 standards.
2. To undertake hair (head and body), nail and blood sample drug testing for, but not limited to amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, hallucinogens, hypnotic substances, ketamine, mephedrone, methadone, methamphetamines (including MDMA and MDEA), novel psychoactive substances, opiates, opioids, sedatives, steroids and tramadol.
3. To undertake ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) biomarkers sample alcohol -ethanol- testing.
4. To undertake liver blood testing, formerly known as liver function tests (LFT).
5. To undertake full blood count testing (FBC), including mean corpuscular volume testing (MCV).

o Analysis

1. Secure email provision of hair sample analysis results within 3 working days.
2. Secure email provision of nail sample analysis results within 3 working days.
3. Secure email provision of blood sample analysis results within 3 working days.
4. Provision of a Certificates of Analysis (CoA).
5. Provision of supplementary reports which interpret sample analysis results in an accessible, clear and concise manner (free from technical jargon, where possible).

o Independent Expert Witness

1. Provision of written testimony, in the capacity of an Expert Witness (where donor samples are tested for legal purposes).
2. Provision of in-person oral testimony, in the capacity of an Expert Witness (where donor samples are tested for legal purposes). N.B. the Service Provider remains responsible for ensuring staff are adequately trained to undertake this requirement, if requested.

o Data Security and Information Governance

1. Compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including registration with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
2. ISO 15489 and BS 10012 accreditations, or appropriate Records Management policies and procedures in place, which are compliant with ISO 15489 and BS 10012 standards.
3. ISO 27001 accreditation, or appropriate Information Security policies and procedures in place, which are compliant with ISO 27001 standards.
4. Data processed within the United Kingdom, or another Country/Territory recognised by the United Kingdom Government as having equivalent levels of Data Protection.
5. Application of appropriate and effective measures/processes/procedures/systems to ensure all Technicians and Scientists:

i. respect confidentiality.

ii. provide secure and safe storage and transport of results and supplementary reports.

o Communication

1. Application of an efficient and intuitive booking, rescheduling and cancellation system(s).
2. Application of an efficient invoicing system.

o Account Management and Management Information (MI)

1. Provision of accurate management information/reports on demand, for but not limited to:

i. usage.

ii. expenditure.