AlphaBiolabs advise the MOCCA test (plus 15% off all tests for NLJ readers)

Lawyers are often advised to order these particular tests—but why?

‘We routinely test for a wide variety of drugs and their metabolites (breakdown products),’ says Marie Law, head of toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, a UKAS-accredited laboratory with over 20 years’ experience in drug testing for legal matters.

‘Yet of all the substances we test for at our laboratory, there are a handful, known by the acronyms of MOCCA and MOCCA-B, that show up time and time again in legal drug test results. They are also widely recognised as some of the most misused substances in the UK.’

MOCCA is an acronym standing for methamphetamine, opiates (including heroin), cocaine (including crack cocaine), cannabis and amphetamines.  

MOCCA-B encompasses all of these, and adds benzodiazepines.

AlphaBiolabs tends to advise its customers to test for the MOCCA or MOCCA-B range for several reasons.

First of all, as Law explains, ‘testing for these substances together can provide clarity in circumstances where it is unclear which substance(s) an individual may have used.

‘This is crucial where important safeguarding decisions need to be made, such as in child welfare cases.’

Secondly, Law says: ‘Testing for a wide range of drugs means that the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plans can be put in place, in line with the substances that have been used.’

Thirdly, Law says: ‘Street drugs are often “cut” with a variety of substances to create or enhance the desired effect of the high, without the knowledge of the person purchasing and consuming the drugs.

‘This means that a comprehensive drug test might find “unexpected” substances in the donor’s sample that may not have been disclosed at the time samples were collected.’

AlphaBiolabs is offering legal clients 15% off its drug testing until 30 June 2024. Simply cite DRUG15 when requesting your quote.

It also promises rapid results with sample collections from any location within 24 to 48 hours of instruction, a wide range of testing including hair, nail, urine and oral fluid samples, and free legally instructed sample collections at its nationwide walk-in centres.