About Drug Detection Laboratories

DDL was founded in 1984 by Jeffery and Susan Zehnder, Forensic Toxicologists who now have over 45 years of combined experience in the Forensic Toxicology field. DDL provides a full service for drug and alcohol testing for the forensic, counseling, and industrial community. DDL is licensed by the California Department of Health Services as a Forensic Alcohol Laboratory (DHS#980022) for the analysis of alcohol in blood, breath, and urine samples;  and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (#PLO24729) to handle and test controlled substances.

DDL provides complete services in the analysis of drugs and alcohol from the collection of specimens to the interpretation of test results for employers, drug counselors, attorneys, physicians, hospitals, parents, and individuals.

Jeffery Zehnder, Director, has been qualified in numerous courts in Northern California and Nevada (over 2000 times total in more than 30 years) as an expert in the areas of alcohol testing, alcohol metabolism, drug testing, and the effects of alcohol and drugs. Susan Zehnder, Co-Director, likewise has qualified in courts though out California in the area of Drug testing and the effects of Drugs.

Staff toxicologist Edwin Smith has worked in the field of forensic chemistry for more than 17 years, spending time both in the public and private sector.  Ed has performed thousands of forensic analyses, including analysis of blood, urine, tissues, and solid dose samples, and has analyzed evidence from many clandestine laboratories.  Ed has testified more 150 times in various courts in California, is a board certified Criminalist, is a Forensic Alcohol Supervisor (California Department of Health Services), and is qualified to perform standardized field sobriety tests (SFTS's).  Ed has a certificate in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida, and is currently a graduate student in forensic toxicology.