The Drug Control Centre (DCC) is an integral part of King’s Forensics with internationally recognised expertise in analytical science. Staff of the Centre publish regularly in eminent peer reviewed scientific journals and provide expert testimonials as required. The DCC has been located in purpose-built King’s College London premises at Waterloo, London since September 1999.
The Drug Control Centre achieved accreditation to the international quality standard, ISO/IEC 17025 (and predecessor standard, ISO Guide 25) by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) in 1997 and has maintained continuous accreditation to this date. Under the quality system required by ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 the personnel at the laboratory are carefully trained and certified in all their areas of work. Instruments and laboratory equipment are accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 standard. This accreditation gives an independent third-party assurance that a high standard of quality control is maintained in relation to the procedures of the Centre.
The Centre is accredited to perform validation and testing of human biological matrices (mainly urine and blood samples) as well as vials and other artefacts for anabolic steroids and other controlled and illicit substances specifically for sports testing but also for forensic and clinical testing if appropriate. The Centre does not analyse supplements
The Centre is rigorously monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the International Standards for Laboratories (ISL). The Centre has received continuous WADA accreditation since WADA was established in 1999 and prior to that by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The ISL specifies technical requirements for the journey of a sample through the laboratory from receipt to post-analysis storage. Reporting of analytical results must be meticulous and defensible. The ISL is designed to ensure that sports competitors do not evade detection by manipulation or falsification of their samples and to safeguard the production of valid test results. The Centre is unable to accept samples from the public or from individual Athletes on a private basis or from organisations representing individuals for sports testing purposes. Terms and conditions of service are always agreed in advance.
For customers that do not operate through UK Anti-Doping (UKAS), the Centre will be happy to accept samples directly from professional bodies, sports organisations, national anti-doping agencies, sports federations and associations who are compliant with the WADA code and recognised by the Olympic Federation and International Olympic Committee or the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
The Centre will also accept samples from the Police, Border Force (Home Office), Coroners, Pathologists, Solicitors, Doctors/Physicians, Investigative Journalists, GMC, GDC, Nursing & Midwifery Council, The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), local authorities, forensic providers, prisons, and hospitals to help with clinical, forensic, or investigative cases.
The Centre supports programmes of research that seek to improve the detection of the use of banned substances according to the WADA Prohibited List.