Anglia DNA, based at Norwich Research Park, is expanding. Building on their recent success in over-the-counter paternity tests, they are investing around £500,000 in new machinery to create a new drug testing laboratory.

This new facility, due to be operational in May, will carry out drugs testing analysis for existing customers, solicitors and local authorities dealing in Child Protection work. The company has experienced a huge demand for this kind of service, and hopes to branch out into workplace drug testing. As Managing Director, Dr Thomas Haizel explains: “We saw the market was bigger than we anticipated and we are going for it.”

This expansion follows impressive achievements in AssureDNA paternity tests, launched in February 2011. A deal struck with Boots to supply the kits in 375 stores made it the first paternity test to be launched in a major high street retailer. Nearly 6,000 kits have been sold so far and AngliaDNA is looking to expand into supermarket chains and international pharmacies. The AngliaDNA laboratory was only established in 2004, and is experiencing rapid growth- turnover was £1.2m last year and is forecast to rise to £1.7m this year. Anglia DNA has increased its capacity to deal with the growing demand for its testing services and more jobs are set to be created in the future, and Dr Haizel anticipates that they will have taken over the whole building in 10 years time, if they continue at this rate.

For more information on AngliaDNA, please visit their website: http://www.angliadna.co.uk/

AssureDNA website: www.assuredna.co.uk

For more on the recent £500,000 investment: http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/norwich_based_anglia_dna_invests_500_000...