Warrington-based DNA, drug and alcohol testing company AlphaBiolabs has announced it has opened its first walk-in centre in Wales.
The award-winning firm , which previously carried out DNA testing for The Jeremy Kyle Show, announced it will provide its full range of testing services from its new Cardiff base.
Founded in 2004, AlphaBiolabs provides testing for private individuals, as well as for for legal purposes, such as in immigration cases.
The new centre takes the number of its walk-in centres across the UK to 11.
The firm said Wales is one of its fastest growing areas, with 26 per cent of DNA tests carried out by the company coming from there, while Cardiff is its fourth busiest UK city for website visits.
Its paternity test kits are also sold at branches of Home Bargains across Wales.
Managing director David Thomas said: “We have a strong history of providing testing services to Wales-based customers and have seen a significant increase in demand over the last few years.
“We also recently won a place on the framework for DNA and drug and alcohol testing for local authorities in Wales, so we felt it was time to establish a permanent presence there to assist our loyal customer base more effectively.
“The new clinic is a one-stop shop for our full range of analytical testing services, offering members of the public, local authorities and employers a convenient location to access these.”
Mr Thomas said companies in Wales are becoming more “proactive” in workplace drug and alcohol testing, where they are undertaking more tests on employees and suppliers.
Demand for the firm’s non-invasive prenatal test, which determines the paternity of a baby before birth, has increased by 376 per cent in Wales over the past 12 months, it said.
Mr Thomas added: “As the only UK lab to provide prenatal paternity testing, and the fastest relationship DNA testing available, it makes sense to open the new clinic to support our Welsh customers.”
The clinic will be based at the Grange Medical Practice on Bishop Street in Grangetown.
