Cansford Labs, the award-winning UK leader in drug and alcohol testing is marking 15 years of growth and innovation with an investment in two state-of-the-art Waters Xevo TQ-S Absolute XR LC/MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) machines, worth over £1million, making it the first drug and alcohol testing lab in the UK to operate this model.
The move comes amid rising concern over drug-related harm across the country, highlighting the need for fast, sensitive, and accurate testing in workplaces, schools, legal cases, and public health settings.
Recent data underlines the urgency of this work, with drug-related deaths in England and Wales reaching record levels in recent years. While the National Crime Agency has emphasised the broader risks these trends pose to communities across the UK, laboratories like Cansford play a vital role in helping society respond by providing fast, highly sensitive, and reliable testing that informs critical decisions and interventions.
Cansford Labs’ investment positions the company to meet rising demand for reliable, fast, and sensitive drug and alcohol testing, helping workplaces, schools, legal professionals, and families respond to the evolving challenges of substance use in the UK.
The new machines allow the lab to increase testing capacity, deliver results faster, and detect substances with unprecedented sensitivity, ensuring clients can rely on the accuracy and speed of every result.
Daniel Lampiasi, Bioanalytical Chemist who calibrates the machines, added:
“Having these systems in the lab is a major contribution to the company. They strengthen our analytical reliability, have the potential to greatly expand our capabilities, and improve our operational efficiency.
The new systems provide better signal stability and improved sensitivity, which is especially important when working close to decision cut-offs. This increases our confidence in the results and provides additional assurance when working at low concentration levels.”
James Nutt, Head of Laboratory Operations:
“When we started at the Cardiff Medicentre, we could never have imagined where we’d be today. We’ve built a diverse team, provided our services both nationally and internationally, and helped countless clients with critical testing. Investing in these machines shows we’re ready for the next 15 years continuing to combine cutting-edge science with the care and expertise our clients rely on every day.”
About Cansford Laboratories
From its humble beginnings at the Cardiff Medicentre, Cansford Labs has grown into a thriving laboratory, now employing over 40 staff and serving clients across the UK and beyond – from solicitors and regulatory bodies to schools, workplaces, and individuals.
For more information, visit – https://cansfordlabs.co.uk/
For media enquiries or to arrange a lab tour, please contact:
communications@cansfordlabs.co.uk