Frequently asked questions

Australia uses a health investigation level of 0.5 µg/100 cm² for residential surfaces, set by the Australian Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (2011). A result above that level means the property should have a detailed assessment and, usually, professional remediation before people live in it. Some commercial settings have a higher investigation level. See our guide to safe meth levels.

Yes, as a first screen. A DIY kit such as our single house kit gives an indication in minutes. It cannot give you a number, is not NATA accredited and will not satisfy an insurer, tribunal or buyer. If a kit shows a positive, or the stakes are high, book professional sampling. Compare the two.

Our DIY kits start at $19.95. Professional sampling is quoted per property and depends on the number of rooms, whether you need a screening or a detailed assessment, and where the property is. Standard pricing covers properties within 50 km of the CBD or GPO of our service locations. Beyond that, travel is charged at 78 cents per kilometre, and we quote it before you book. See what affects the price.

A site visit for a typical house takes one to two hours. Samples then go to a NATA accredited laboratory under chain of custody, and turnaround depends on the laboratory and the type of assessment. We confirm the expected turnaround when you book, and urgent jobs can be prioritised.

Usually not. WA Department of Health data shows residue from smoking is often below about 3 µg/100 cm², with hotspots of 10 to 15 µg/100 cm² in heavily used areas. Former clandestine labs can exceed 100 µg/100 cm² and also leave solvents and acids. Both can exceed the 0.5 µg/100 cm² guideline, so both are worth testing for.

Meth residue does not simply wear off. It is absorbed into paint, plasterboard, carpet, curtains and ducting and can remain detectable for years if the property is not properly remediated. Ordinary cleaning and repainting can mask it without removing it.

Exposure to meth residue has been associated with headaches, sore eyes, skin irritation, breathing problems and sleep and behaviour changes in children, who are most exposed because they touch surfaces and put their hands in their mouths. The risk rises with the level of contamination. If you are worried about symptoms, see your GP and mention the possible exposure.

You often can't by looking. Possible signs include chemical or ammonia smells, yellow or brown staining, blacked-out windows, extra ventilation, chemical containers or burn marks, and neighbours' reports of unusual activity. Many contaminated homes show none of these. Signs of a meth house covers what to look for and why testing is the only reliable answer.

A composite combines several swabs into one laboratory result, giving an average for the property or room. A detailed assessment analyses every swab separately, showing exactly which rooms or surfaces are contaminated. Composites suit screening; detailed assessments suit claims, disputes and remediation.

No. As at October 2026 no Australian state or territory makes meth testing compulsory before a sale or lease. Disclosure obligations and the duty to provide habitable premises mean many owners and agents test anyway.

Rules differ by state. In NSW, landlords must tell prospective tenants if they know the property was used to make or grow prohibited drugs in the last two years. Victorian rental providers must disclose known drug trafficking or cultivation in the last five years. Agents everywhere must not mislead buyers or tenants. Read meth laws by state and get legal advice for your situation.

Usually the owner or landlord, because the test protects their asset and insurance position. Some tenants commission their own test before moving in. If a test proves a tenant caused contamination, the cost of testing and remediation may be claimable, depending on your lease, bond and insurance.

It depends entirely on the policy. Some landlord policies cover contamination caused by tenants up to a limit, some exclude it, and most require proof of when contamination happened. That is why insurers ask for an accredited report and why testing at the start of each tenancy matters. How testing supports a claim.

For established homes, particularly former rentals, it is a low-cost check against a potentially very expensive problem that building inspections do not cover.

In many cases, yes. Ask your conveyancer or solicitor how to word a special condition for your state.

Depending on your contract, you may be able to negotiate the price, require remediation before settlement, or withdraw. Get legal advice quickly.

Yes, with proper notice of entry under your state's tenancy law. Explain the purpose and keep the visit brief; sampling is non-destructive.

Illegal use of the premises and damage can be grounds for ending a tenancy, but the process depends on your state's tenancy law. Get advice and keep test reports as evidence.

No. We only sample and test, which keeps our results independent. If remediation is needed, your report gives the remediator a clear map of what to treat, and we can carry out validation testing afterwards to confirm the property is below the guideline.

If results are below 0.5 µg/100 cm², the property is considered acceptable for residential use. Above that, the guideline recommends assessment and remediation before occupation, particularly where children live.

It is a report from a detailed assessment after remediation showing every sample result against the 0.5 µg/100 cm² guideline. It is the evidence that a property is suitable to live in again.

The report shows which samples exceeded the guideline. The remediator re-treats those areas and we re-test them. Targeted re-work is usually much cheaper than the original job.

Don't start cleaning. Limit time inside, keep children and pets out, and book an inspection. If you find chemicals or equipment, call police first. A detailed report tells you, your insurer and any remediator exactly what you are dealing with.

In most cases, yes. Former labs can usually be remediated and validated as safe. A small number with very high contamination or structural damage are demolished.

They are reasonably reliable as a screen: a negative usually means meth is absent. A positive does not tell you how much or where, and can react below the guideline, so confirm positives with professional testing.

Generally not. Insurers and tribunals look for accredited sampling and laboratory results.

One kit gives one test. For a better picture, test two or three high-risk spots, such as the main living area, a bedroom and the bathroom.

Yes, with free express shipping. Orders usually ship within 1 to 2 business days and arrive in 1 to 2 business days in metro areas, 2 to 3 regional and 3 to 5 remote.

Yes. We sample for cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, heroin, amphetamines and a range of precursor chemicals, as well as methamphetamine.

Rarely. Methamphetamine covers most residential situations. We add other substances when the history or signs point to them, which keeps the cost down.

Brief skin contact with residue is very unlikely to cause an overdose. Powders that become airborne and accidental ingestion are the real risks, so avoid disturbing any material and wash your hands. Seek medical help if anyone develops symptoms.

Yes. Wipe sampling and laboratory analysis can detect cocaine on hard surfaces where it has been prepared or used.

If it was built or renovated before 1990, it may. Asbestos was used in fibro sheeting, eaves, wet-area linings, vinyl floor backing, roofing, pipe lagging and textured coatings until the national ban on 31 December 2003. You can't confirm it by eye. A sample analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory is the only reliable test. Asbestos in Australian homes.

Home asbestos kits rely on you cutting into a suspect material, which can release fibres, and their results are not accepted for compliance. Asbestos can only be confirmed by a NATA accredited laboratory, usually by polarised light microscopy. A trained inspector samples safely and seals the spot.

Our asbestos reports are typically delivered within 24 hours of the inspection, once laboratory results are back.

Friable asbestos can be crumbled by hand and releases fibres easily, such as pipe lagging and some insulation. Bonded (non-friable) asbestos is locked in a material like fibro sheeting and is lower risk while it is in good condition and left undisturbed.

Friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A licensed removalist. Bonded asbestos over 10 square metres needs a Class A or Class B licence. Small amounts of bonded asbestos may be removed by a competent person in some states, but rules vary, so check with your state regulator first.

There is no Australian legal exposure standard for mould. Results are assessed by comparing indoor spore levels and types with outdoor air and by looking for signs of water damage and active growth.

Small areas on hard surfaces can be cleaned, but bleach does not fix the moisture problem and often fails on porous materials. Large or recurring growth needs the cause found and professional remediation.

You can't tell by looking. Homes painted before 1970 are most likely to have lead paint, often under newer layers. An XRF reading or laboratory test of a paint sample will confirm it.

The NHMRC recommends that if a person's blood lead level is above 5 micrograms per decilitre, the source of exposure should be investigated and reduced. Talk to your GP about blood testing.

The workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica is 0.025 mg/m³ averaged over an eight-hour day.

Yes. Manufacturing, supplying and installing engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned since 1 July 2024, with limited exceptions. Work on existing engineered stone is still allowed under strict controls.

NATA accreditation means our sampling is independently assessed against ISO/IEC 17025 (2017). EnviroForce was the first company in Australia accredited for methamphetamine sampling (accreditation No. 20837), using the NIOSH 9111 method. Accredited sampling is what insurers, tribunals and lawyers expect to see.

Yes. We sample in every state and territory, including regional and remote areas. Standard pricing covers properties within 50 km of the CBD or GPO of our service locations. Beyond that, travel is charged at 78 cents per kilometre, and we quote it before you book. See all service areas.

Book online or call 1300 373 785. Tell us the address, property type, number of rooms and why you are testing (sale, purchase, tenancy, insurance or a concern), and we will recommend the right assessment and confirm a time.

We take urgent bookings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone on 1300 373 785. Out-of-hours attendance depends on technician availability in your area and may attract a surcharge, which we confirm before booking.

No. Sampling is a surface wipe of a measured 100 cm² area. It leaves no mark on sound paint and needs no drilling or cutting.

Australia uses a health investigation level of 0.5 µg/100 cm² for residential surfaces, set by the Australian Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (2011). A result above that level means the property should have a detailed assessment and, usually, professional remediation before people live in it. Some commercial settings have a higher investigation level. See our guide to safe meth levels.

Yes, as a first screen. A DIY kit such as our single house kit gives an indication in minutes. It cannot give you a number, is not NATA accredited and will not satisfy an insurer, tribunal or buyer. If a kit shows a positive, or the stakes are high, book professional sampling. Compare the two.

Our DIY kits start at $19.95. Professional sampling is quoted per property and depends on the number of rooms, whether you need a screening or a detailed assessment, and where the property is. Standard pricing covers properties within 50 km of the CBD or GPO of our service locations. Beyond that, travel is charged at 78 cents per kilometre, and we quote it before you book. See what affects the price.

A site visit for a typical house takes one to two hours. Samples then go to a NATA accredited laboratory under chain of custody, and turnaround depends on the laboratory and the type of assessment. We confirm the expected turnaround when you book, and urgent jobs can be prioritised.

Usually not. WA Department of Health data shows residue from smoking is often below about 3 µg/100 cm², with hotspots of 10 to 15 µg/100 cm² in heavily used areas. Former clandestine labs can exceed 100 µg/100 cm² and also leave solvents and acids. Both can exceed the 0.5 µg/100 cm² guideline, so both are worth testing for.

Meth residue does not simply wear off. It is absorbed into paint, plasterboard, carpet, curtains and ducting and can remain detectable for years if the property is not properly remediated. Ordinary cleaning and repainting can mask it without removing it.

Exposure to meth residue has been associated with headaches, sore eyes, skin irritation, breathing problems and sleep and behaviour changes in children, who are most exposed because they touch surfaces and put their hands in their mouths. The risk rises with the level of contamination. If you are worried about symptoms, see your GP and mention the possible exposure.

You often can't by looking. Possible signs include chemical or ammonia smells, yellow or brown staining, blacked-out windows, extra ventilation, chemical containers or burn marks, and neighbours' reports of unusual activity. Many contaminated homes show none of these. Signs of a meth house covers what to look for and why testing is the only reliable answer.

A composite combines several swabs into one laboratory result, giving an average for the property or room. A detailed assessment analyses every swab separately, showing exactly which rooms or surfaces are contaminated. Composites suit screening; detailed assessments suit claims, disputes and remediation.

No. As at October 2026 no Australian state or territory makes meth testing compulsory before a sale or lease. Disclosure obligations and the duty to provide habitable premises mean many owners and agents test anyway.

Rules differ by state. In NSW, landlords must tell prospective tenants if they know the property was used to make or grow prohibited drugs in the last two years. Victorian rental providers must disclose known drug trafficking or cultivation in the last five years. Agents everywhere must not mislead buyers or tenants. Read meth laws by state and get legal advice for your situation.

Usually the owner or landlord, because the test protects their asset and insurance position. Some tenants commission their own test before moving in. If a test proves a tenant caused contamination, the cost of testing and remediation may be claimable, depending on your lease, bond and insurance.

It depends entirely on the policy. Some landlord policies cover contamination caused by tenants up to a limit, some exclude it, and most require proof of when contamination happened. That is why insurers ask for an accredited report and why testing at the start of each tenancy matters. How testing supports a claim.

For established homes, particularly former rentals, it is a low-cost check against a potentially very expensive problem that building inspections do not cover.

In many cases, yes. Ask your conveyancer or solicitor how to word a special condition for your state.

Depending on your contract, you may be able to negotiate the price, require remediation before settlement, or withdraw. Get legal advice quickly.

Yes, with proper notice of entry under your state's tenancy law. Explain the purpose and keep the visit brief; sampling is non-destructive.

Illegal use of the premises and damage can be grounds for ending a tenancy, but the process depends on your state's tenancy law. Get advice and keep test reports as evidence.

No. We only sample and test, which keeps our results independent. If remediation is needed, your report gives the remediator a clear map of what to treat, and we can carry out validation testing afterwards to confirm the property is below the guideline.

If results are below 0.5 µg/100 cm², the property is considered acceptable for residential use. Above that, the guideline recommends assessment and remediation before occupation, particularly where children live.

It is a report from a detailed assessment after remediation showing every sample result against the 0.5 µg/100 cm² guideline. It is the evidence that a property is suitable to live in again.

The report shows which samples exceeded the guideline. The remediator re-treats those areas and we re-test them. Targeted re-work is usually much cheaper than the original job.

Don't start cleaning. Limit time inside, keep children and pets out, and book an inspection. If you find chemicals or equipment, call police first. A detailed report tells you, your insurer and any remediator exactly what you are dealing with.

In most cases, yes. Former labs can usually be remediated and validated as safe. A small number with very high contamination or structural damage are demolished.

They are reasonably reliable as a screen: a negative usually means meth is absent. A positive does not tell you how much or where, and can react below the guideline, so confirm positives with professional testing.

Generally not. Insurers and tribunals look for accredited sampling and laboratory results.

One kit gives one test. For a better picture, test two or three high-risk spots, such as the main living area, a bedroom and the bathroom.

Yes, with free express shipping. Orders usually ship within 1 to 2 business days and arrive in 1 to 2 business days in metro areas, 2 to 3 regional and 3 to 5 remote.

Yes. We sample for cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, heroin, amphetamines and a range of precursor chemicals, as well as methamphetamine.

Rarely. Methamphetamine covers most residential situations. We add other substances when the history or signs point to them, which keeps the cost down.

Brief skin contact with residue is very unlikely to cause an overdose. Powders that become airborne and accidental ingestion are the real risks, so avoid disturbing any material and wash your hands. Seek medical help if anyone develops symptoms.

Yes. Wipe sampling and laboratory analysis can detect cocaine on hard surfaces where it has been prepared or used.

If it was built or renovated before 1990, it may. Asbestos was used in fibro sheeting, eaves, wet-area linings, vinyl floor backing, roofing, pipe lagging and textured coatings until the national ban on 31 December 2003. You can't confirm it by eye. A sample analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory is the only reliable test. Asbestos in Australian homes.

Home asbestos kits rely on you cutting into a suspect material, which can release fibres, and their results are not accepted for compliance. Asbestos can only be confirmed by a NATA accredited laboratory, usually by polarised light microscopy. A trained inspector samples safely and seals the spot.

Our asbestos reports are typically delivered within 24 hours of the inspection, once laboratory results are back.

Friable asbestos can be crumbled by hand and releases fibres easily, such as pipe lagging and some insulation. Bonded (non-friable) asbestos is locked in a material like fibro sheeting and is lower risk while it is in good condition and left undisturbed.

Friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A licensed removalist. Bonded asbestos over 10 square metres needs a Class A or Class B licence. Small amounts of bonded asbestos may be removed by a competent person in some states, but rules vary, so check with your state regulator first.

There is no Australian legal exposure standard for mould. Results are assessed by comparing indoor spore levels and types with outdoor air and by looking for signs of water damage and active growth.

Small areas on hard surfaces can be cleaned, but bleach does not fix the moisture problem and often fails on porous materials. Large or recurring growth needs the cause found and professional remediation.

You can't tell by looking. Homes painted before 1970 are most likely to have lead paint, often under newer layers. An XRF reading or laboratory test of a paint sample will confirm it.

The NHMRC recommends that if a person's blood lead level is above 5 micrograms per decilitre, the source of exposure should be investigated and reduced. Talk to your GP about blood testing.

The workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica is 0.025 mg/m³ averaged over an eight-hour day.

Yes. Manufacturing, supplying and installing engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned since 1 July 2024, with limited exceptions. Work on existing engineered stone is still allowed under strict controls.

NATA accreditation means our sampling is independently assessed against ISO/IEC 17025 (2017). EnviroForce was the first company in Australia accredited for methamphetamine sampling (accreditation No. 20837), using the NIOSH 9111 method. Accredited sampling is what insurers, tribunals and lawyers expect to see.

Yes. We sample in every state and territory, including regional and remote areas. Standard pricing covers properties within 50 km of the CBD or GPO of our service locations. Beyond that, travel is charged at 78 cents per kilometre, and we quote it before you book. See all service areas.

We take urgent bookings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone on 1300 373 785. Out-of-hours attendance depends on technician availability in your area and may attract a surcharge, which we confirm before booking.

No. Sampling is a surface wipe of a measured 100 cm² area. It leaves no mark on sound paint and needs no drilling or cutting.