Toxicology Department

Laboratory overview

The Toxicology Unit at King’s College Hospital has grown through the acquisition of selected services from the Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Medical Toxicology Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. 

The Toxicology Unit is a UKAS accredited department encompassing three specialist laboratories providing tests for use in monitoring the diagnosis and treatment of substance misuse, therapeutic drug monitoring and trace element and toxic metal analysis for use in ascertaining deficiencies, diagnosing toxicity and in the diagnosis of certain inherited diseases. 

All results are clinically correlated and in-depth phone consultation with experts is available. The laboratory has a great deal of experience in the analysis of clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs and in a range of other areas.

Research and development

We have strong links with local, national and international clinical services and commercial companies, and have supported several clinical research studies and environmental investigations. 

Developments include the measurement of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and triazole antifungals (AFs) and a number of joint grants awarded and research studies in place including with the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London.  

The Unit has been the recipient of a number of European Union (EU) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) grants. 

Training and accreditations

We have an active education and training program for staff specialising in Analytical Toxicology and we have been the major impetus for the UK clinical scientist analytical toxicology training programme as the only accredited centre in the UK offering such training. 

Many staff have, under appropriate guidance, carried out research projects within the unit towards MSc, PhD and FRCPath examinations.

The Toxicology Unit actively participates in various EQA schemes (e.g. UKNEQAS, LGC, Heathcontrol) and although we function as a separate entity, the Unit is part of the UKAS accredited Department of Clinical Biochemistry.