Litigation Support

Along with standard client support, Alere also provides litigation support. Should this need arise, a client may choose from one of several options to attest to the procedures and methodology used in conjunction with the requirement for your substance abuse testing program.

In-person or Telephonic Expert Witness Testimony

Either in court or via phone, Alere can provide a professional laboratory staff member with a demonstrated record of experience and success as a qualified expert in forensic toxicology to represent the laboratory and your organization. Our scientific results are supported by sworn expert opinions, depositions, litigation packages, and confidently delivered court testimony. Alere’s qualified and experienced individuals can provide expert witness testimony on matters that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The validity and reliability of the test procedures
  • Test results interpretation (screening and GC/MS confirmation procedures)
  • Internal/external chain of custody form documents and procedures
  • Confirmation documents for the donor in question
  • The meaning of analytical results, other issues, and procedures related to equipment, e.g. type, accuracy, calibration
  • Quality control screening results
  • Specimen storage (short and long-term)
  • Security
  • Supportive documentation related to your drug/alcohol testing program

Affidavits

The affidavit can either be written by the client or be a standard in-house affidavit that describes the processes and procedures used to test a specific specimen. It includes the qualifications of the Laboratory Director and Certifying Scientist, the lab’s accessioning protocol, the testing methodology, and the result of Alere’s analysis. This affidavit will be signed by one of Alere’s qualified toxicologists and witnessed by a notary to certify its authenticity.

Litigation Packages

Alere personnel can also prepare a comprehensive litigation package that includes the following items:

  • Copy of the external chain of custody form
  • Screening data from the initial immunoassay analysis
  • Confirmation data from the GC/MS analysis
  • Internal chain of custody documentation
  • Instrument calibration and control data
  • Quality control results
  • Final report
  • Drug information
  • Qualifications of Lab Director and/or Certifying Scientist

To aid our clients in employment or other types of hearings and court cases, Alere commits to providing all necessary testimony and documentation to demonstrate the quality and accuracy of its substance abuse testing procedures.

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