Warrington-based DNA, drug and alcohol testing company AlphaBiolabs has been appointed to conduct random drug testing on Liverpool cabbies.
The appointment comes after Liverpool City Council’s licensing committee approved a new random drug testing policy for taxi and private hire drivers.
AlphaBiolabs will take urine samples and analyse them at its laboratory to detect illegal drugs consumed from 72 hours to 28 days before.
Testing is due to begin before Christmas and continue on a monthly basis, it said.
David Thomas, managing director of AlphaBiolabs, said: “We have been working with Liverpool City Council for some time, providing drug and alcohol testing for children’s services.
“We are now thrilled to be helping the council with this random testing which will help keep drivers safe as well as members of the public.”
The company said workplace drug and alcohol testing is a “burgeoning part of AlphaBiolabs’ business”, with it already carrying out testing across the aviation, construction, logistics and manufacturing industries.
Mr Thomas said: “Random drug testing is one of the best ways to ensure that employees are working in a safe environment.
“Many studies show that it is effective in reducing accidents and incidents, ill-health, absenteeism and litigation, all of which have an impact on productivity and can save companies and organisations thousands of pounds in lost revenue.”
The new policy will also involve intelligence-led testing where there are reasonable grounds, while drivers with a drug-related conviction or caution who apply for a new licence may also be required to undergo testing.
Liverpool City Council, which currently licenses more than 4,300 taxi and private hire drivers, said a small minority use illegal drugs.
Between May 2018 and May 2019, a total of 114 licensed drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.
