Everything clients ask before they send us a sample.
If your question is not answered below, send it to the laboratory directly — we would rather help you plan the sampling properly than analyse the wrong wipes.
What is illicit drug residue testing?
It is the laboratory analysis of surface wipe samples to determine whether illicit drug residues are present on a property, vehicle or item — and if so, at what concentration. Residues from smoking, use or manufacture settle onto walls, ceilings, carpets, HVAC systems and furnishings and can remain there long after the activity has stopped.
Which drugs do you test for?
Our panel covers methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA and MDA, cocaine and benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, and the precursors pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. You can order a single analyte or the comprehensive panel on the one submission.
Where are you located and who can use the lab?
Our facility is in Queensland, Australia, and we service clients Australia wide. We work with decontamination companies, illicit drug remediation companies, cleaning companies, property managers and home owners, and collaborate closely with environmental hygienists.
What does “paperless laboratory design” mean for me?
It means your sample is registered digitally in the field, tracked with a tamper-evident electronic chain of custody, and reported straight from the instrument data to your portal. You get faster results, fewer transcription errors, and a job that generates no printed documentation at all.
What sampling method do you use?
We work to the NIOSH 9111 wipe sampling method, the reference method used for methamphetamine surface assessment across Australia and New Zealand. It defines the wipe material, wetting solvent, template area and technique so that results are comparable between samples and between laboratories.
Can I collect the samples myself?
Yes. Home owners and property managers regularly collect their own samples using our kits, which include pre-wetted wipes, 100 cm² templates, gloves, containers and step-by-step digital instructions. If the result may be used in a dispute, insurance claim or legal matter, we recommend engaging an independent environmental hygienist.
How many samples does a property need?
A basic screen of a small residential property typically uses three to five samples covering the main living area, kitchen, bedrooms and HVAC return. A detailed assessment ahead of remediation will sample each room individually. We are happy to help you plan the sampling before you order.
What is composite sampling?
Composite sampling combines up to four separate 100 cm² locations onto a single wipe, giving broad coverage at a lower cost per area. It is ideal for initial screening. If a composite returns a detection, discrete samples are then used to pinpoint the affected areas.
Can you test things other than building surfaces?
Yes. We routinely analyse wipes taken from vehicle interiors, furniture, appliances, tools, personal protective equipment and HVAC filter media.
How are results reported?
Results are quantitative and reported in micrograms per 100 cm² of sampled area, per analyte, per sample location. The laboratory reporting limit is stated alongside every value so that non-detections are meaningful rather than ambiguous.
What is the Australian guideline level?
The widely applied remediation guideline for methamphetamine on surfaces in Australia is 0.5 µg/100 cm². Results above that level generally indicate professional remediation is required. Your hygienist or remediation contractor will interpret the results in the context of the property and its intended use.
How fast are results returned?
Standard turnaround is 48 hours from sample receipt. A 24-hour priority service is available, and same-day analysis can sometimes be accommodated for Queensland clients subject to bench capacity.
What should I do if my result is above the guideline?
Do not attempt to clean it yourself. Contact a licensed illicit drug remediation company, who will use your certificate to scope the works. Once remediation is complete, post-remediation clearance sampling is submitted to us to confirm the property has been returned below the guideline.
Are the results usable in a dispute or insurance claim?
Quantified results with a documented chain of custody carry far more weight than a field screening kit. For tenancy disputes, bond claims and insurance matters we recommend independent sample collection by an environmental hygienist, paired with our laboratory analysis.
Do you offer trade accounts?
Yes. Decontamination companies, remediation contractors, cleaning companies and hygienist practices submitting 20 or more samples per month receive volume pricing, standing kit supply, priority bench slots and a shared digital dashboard across all jobs.
Do you supply quality control materials?
We supply spiked wipes, field blanks and reference materials for method validation, proficiency testing and field QA/QC programs. Volumes and concentrations are prepared to order.
Can you train our crew in NIOSH 9111 sampling?
Yes. We deliver sampling method training and toolbox sessions covering technique, template use, decontamination between samples, blank handling and digital chain of custody entry.
How do we send samples from outside Queensland?
Kits are dispatched to you anywhere in Australia with a prepaid return satchel. Samples are stable in transit, and because the chain of custody is digital, nothing is delayed waiting on paperwork to arrive with the shipment.