About cocaine residue
Cocaine is usually snorted as a powder, so residue tends to collect on flat surfaces where lines are prepared rather than spreading through a whole building the way meth smoke does. Hospitality venues, nightlife precincts and short-stay accommodation are common settings, as are vehicles and shared workplace amenities.
There is no specific Australian residential guideline for cocaine residue. Results are interpreted in context: where they were found, how high they are, and who uses the space.
Where we sample and why
- Bathroom vanities, cisterns and toilet seats
- Kitchen benches and dining or coffee tables
- Bedside tables and shelving
- Vehicle consoles and dashboards
- Venue bathrooms, private rooms and staff areas
How we test
- We discuss the history of the property or vehicle and agree which substances to target.
- A technician takes measured wipe samples from high-risk and general surfaces, photographing each location.
- Samples go to a NATA accredited laboratory under chain of custody for targeted analysis.
- Our hygienist interprets the results and you receive a report with locations, results and next steps.
Multiple drugs can be tested from one visit. Methamphetamine sampling is covered by our NATA accreditation (No. 20837). For substances without a specific Australian residential guideline, results are interpreted against the national clandestine laboratory guidelines and the circumstances of the property.
Last reviewed October 2026 by the EnviroForce team