1.

If the individual requires a private analysis of this specimen he or she may approach any of the analysts on this list. The individual named under each practice address is a contact name. It should not be inferred that this is the person who will carry out the analysis or who will attend Court should an expert witness be required. These matters will be decided within the practice.

2.

When an analyst has been chosen it is recommended strongly that the individual should telephone the office of the analyst to ascertain whether the practice can undertake the work, the time required to prepare a report and the fee payable. There is no set fee for analysis of blood and urine specimens. However, the fee may be of the order of £95.00 + V.A.T. for the analysis of a single specimen, the exact fee will vary from laboratory to laboratory. Usually, payment of the fee will be required in advance.

3.

The specimen and fee should be sent to the analyst as soon as is practicable, preferably upon receipt, and in the meantime the specimen should be kept cool, preferably in a refrigerator, but NOT in the freezing compartment.

4.

It is essential that the envelope provided by the police containing the specimen be unopened, and that the sender can be identified without opening the envelope - this can be achieved by writing the sender's name, address and telephone number on the envelope or on an attached slip of paper. It is important that any seal or signature on the envelope should not have been damaged or obliterated.

5.

When the arrangements in paragraph 2 have been agreed, the specimen should be submitted to the analyst either by personal delivery or by first class post - in which case it is preferable to use the Registered or Recorded Delivery Service. It should be sent in a strong protective package.

6.

The analyst will prepare a report and send it to the client. In this report the analyst will note the circumstances and condition in which the specimen was received.

Notes

1.

The method of analysis currently in use by the laboratories within the Forensic Science Service is gas chromatography. Most of the analysts in the following list of practices use this method but other methods are available.

2.

The analysts carrying out the analyses are prepared to give evidence in Court as an Expert Witness in support of their blood or urine alcohol analytical results. If an analyst is required to appear subsequently in Court a further fee will, of course, be payable. The exact amount can only be decided in consultation with the analyst concerned. (The fee will be of the order of £70 per hour or more, with a likely minimum of £350 for a whole day in Court.)

3.

The prescribed limits for alcohol in blood and urine, as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and the Transport and Works Act 1992, as applicable in the United Kingdom at present (September 1996) are: 

• 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood  

• 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine