About

Established in 2025

The Scientific Advisory Committee for Toxicology Laboratories (SACTL) is a collaborative body made up of representatives from leading commercial laboratories in the UK workplace, healthcare, and medico-legal sectors.

We were established to address a growing need for consistency, transparency, and standardisation in non-criminal drug and alcohol testing. While each member laboratory brings its own expertise, we work collectively to ensure that practices across the industry align with the highest scientific and regulatory standards.

Read our Terms of Reference

purpose

Develop and publish best-practice guidance for toxicology laboratories outside of the criminal justice system.

Support consistent interpretation of ISO/IEC 17025 and Lab 51 requirements, reducing uncertainty and variation across the industry.

Provide a unified industry voice in dialogue with UKAS and other accrediting bodies, helping to shape guidance where clarification is needed.

How We work

SACTL operates under Chatham House Rules, creating a forum for open and constructive discussion without commercial or reputational risk.

Before publication, all outputs are peer-reviewed internally by the committee and are regularly distributed for review and comment amongst interested groups (such as The LTG, EWDTS and UKIAFT) , ensuring that guidance reflects the shared knowledge and experience of the sector.

Values

We are committed to advancing an effective, high-quality, and standardised approach to toxicology testing.

By aligning industry practices and engaging constructively with regulators and peers, SACTL aims to strengthen confidence in the quality of testing and support safe and fair outcomes for employers, healthcare providers, and individuals alike.

F.A.Q

What is SACTL?

SACTL (Scientific Advisory Committee for Toxicology Laboratories) is an industry-led collaborative body of UK-based commercial laboratories involved in workplace, healthcare, and medico-legal drug and alcohol testing. The committee’s purpose is to publish best-practice guidance, promote consistent application of ISO/IEC 17025 and Lab 51, and provide a unified voice to accrediting bodies such as UKAS.

Why was SACTL formed?

Non-criminal toxicology testing in the UK often faces uncertainty in how standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 and Lab 51 are interpreted. Individual laboratories may apply requirements differently, leading to inconsistency. SACTL was established to resolve these gaps by creating clear, peer-reviewed guidance that all laboratories can rely on.

How can I contribute to the guidance being produced?

SACTL welcomes input from across the toxicology community. External professionals may be invited as contributors or observers to provide specialist expertise on particular topics. In addition, once draft guidance is published, stakeholders will be able to share feedback through the SACTL website or via direct contact. This ensures the guidance reflects a broad range of perspectives while remaining rooted in technical rigour.

How is SACTL different from accrediting bodies like UKAS?

SACTL is not a regulator or accrediting authority. Instead, it is an industry-led committee that supports laboratories by clarifying requirements, sharing best practice, and providing feedback to UKAS. Our work complements, but does not replace, the role of accrediting organisations.

Will SACTL’s guidance be publicly available?

Yes. All outputs, such as best-practice guidance documents, will be freely accessible through the SACTL website. The goal is to encourage transparency and raise standards across the whole industry, not just among member laboratories.

How does SACTL ensure impartiality?

The committee operates under Chatham House Rules, allowing open discussion without risk of reputational or commercial harm. Members are expected to act in the collective interests of the industry, rather than their own organisations.

About​

Established in 2025​

purpose​

How We work​