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A Guide to the Methamphetamine Testing Industry Copyright John & Linda Reid, Drug Safe NZ Ltd. Website: DRUGSAFE.NZ

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A Guide to Testing Houses and Commercial Properties for Methamphetamine Contamination

By Linda Reid

Drug Safe New Zealand Ltd


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Introduction

This guide is as up-to-date and accurate as possible. The testing industry is changing and new

rules and new procedures will no doubt be developed over time. We will therefore update this

guide when needed, and indicate the date when it was changed. The Government has created

a potentially biased committee to review and set standards and resisted attempts to widen the

kinds of people who sit on this committee. We will be fascinated to see what they produce.

We have written this guide in an effort to bring light and clarity to a confusing subject, and to

counter the many myths and misconceptions that are being spread by some people inside and

outside the industry. We have used what we believe to be best practice and we have spoken

with many other people in the industry to collect their views as well. We have also attempted

to address the uncertainties still present in this industry.

Please let us know if you have any questions not answered in this guide and we will answer

them.

John and Linda Reid

20 September 2016

UPDATE:

The Ministry of Health and ESR have issued new guidelines for remediation, and we have

included their press release on page 15. This will no doubt be taken into account when the

Standards Committee release their draft recommendation in 2 weeks. This report does NOT

change how we test nor does it change the level we test to. It relates to remediation.

2 November 2016


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Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 5

What is ‘P’ (Methamphetamine)? ......................................................................................... 6

How is ‘P’ manufactured? ..................................................................................................... 7

How is ‘P’ different from other drugs? ................................................................................. 8

What are the effects of ‘P’ contamination? ........................................................................... 9

How widespread is ‘P’ contamination in NZ? .................................................................... 10

What is the safe limit for ‘P’? ............................................................................................. 11

Govt Appoint Committee .................................................................................................... 12

Committee appointed to develop meth-testing standard ................................................ 12

Standard for testing and remediation of meth-contaminated properties ......................... 13

ESR Media Release: ............................................................................................................ 15

What does it mean if your property fails a test? .................................................................. 18

Types of testing and when to use them ............................................................................... 19

Level 1 - MMC Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests ................................................... 19

Levels 2 and 3 - Laboratory Testing ............................................................................... 22

Alternative 1 - Laboratory Composite Testing ............................................................... 24

Not recommended - Field Composite Testing ................................................................ 26

Strip Testing ................................................................................................................... 27

Random Sampling ............................................................................................................... 28

Reporting Results ................................................................................................................ 28

Conflicts of Interest ............................................................................................................. 29

About the Authors ............................................................................................................... 30


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Executive Summary

There is no doubt that methamphetamine contamination is a problem for home owners in

New Zealand.

Houses in NZ are contaminated.

There are health implications for people who live and/or work in contaminated

spaces.

The risk is higher for landlords with rental properties being most vulnerable to both

meth smoker and manufacturers.

There is a difference between meth use and meth manufacture.

Meth use means the property is contaminated with methamphetamine.

Meth manufacture means many other toxic chemicals will also be present in the

property.

The level of meth is set at 0.5 micrograms per 100cm2 for clan lab remediation.

The Ministry of Health uses the levels of methamphetamine present as a proxy for the

other toxic chemicals.

There is no specific guideline for the residue left by the use of methamphetamine.

UPDATE: (However the ESR has just released their recommendations. See page 15.)

The industry is using the 0.5 micrograms per 100cm2

level as the point at which

remediation is required. This may change.

There are different methods for testing – we tell you the best.

We also address the major issues that conflicts of interest cause within the industry

and the wider real estate community.

The Government has set up a standards committee to look at these issues.

This is an evolving industry and we will keep you up-to-date.


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What is ‘P’ (Methamphetamine)?

Methamphetamine, also known as chalk, ice, P, meth and crystal meth among many other

terms, takes the form of a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily

dissolves in water or alcohol.

It is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

Methamphetamine was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug,

amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. Like

amphetamine, methamphetamine causes increased activity and talkativeness, decreased

appetite, and a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria. However, methamphetamine

differs from amphetamine in that, at comparable doses, much greater amounts of the drug get

into the brain, making it a more potent stimulant. It also has longer-lasting and more harmful

effects on the central nervous system. These characteristics make it a drug with high potential

for widespread abuse.


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How is ‘P’ manufactured?

Most of the methamphetamine abused in this country is manufactured in small clandestine

laboratories, with relatively inexpensive ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, a common

ingredient in cold medications. The availability of pseudoephedrine is now tightly controlled

in New Zealand, and customs are fighting a constant battle to stop it being illegally

imported.

Unfortunately, manufacturers are also increasingly using a different production process

(called P2P, from the precursor chemical phenyl-2-propanone) that does not require

pseudoephedrine.

Methamphetamine production also involves a number of other easily obtained chemicals that

are hazardous, refer to the list below.

Toxicity from these chemicals can remain in the environment around a methamphetamine

production lab long after the lab has been shut down, causing a wide range of damaging

effects to health. Because of these dangers, the Ministry of Health has provided guidance on

cleanup and remediation of methamphetamine labs.

You can download it here:

https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/guidelines-remediation-

clandestine-meth-lab-sites.pdf

List of chemicals commonly used:

Diluted HCl - also called Muriatic acid NaOH - also called lye

Ethyl Ether - aka Diethyl Ether - Et-0-Et

Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine

Distilled water

Iodine

Hydroiodic Acid

Red Phosphorus

Ammonia hydroxide

List of equipment used:

A glass eyedropper

Three small glass bottles with lids

A Pyrex dish

A glass quart jar

Sharp scissors

Clean rubber gloves

Coffee filters

A measuring cup

Measuring spoons

https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/guidelines-remediation-clandestine-meth-lab-sites.pdf

https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/guidelines-remediation-clandestine-meth-lab-sites.pdf


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How is ‘P’ different from other drugs?

The methamphetamine molecule is structurally similar to amphetamine and to the

neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in the regulation of

reward, but it is quite different from cocaine. Although these stimulants have similar

behavioural and physiological effects, there are some major differences in the basic

mechanisms of how they work.

In contrast to cocaine, which is quickly removed from and almost completely metabolized in

the body, methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action, and a larger percentage of

the drug remains unchanged in the body. Methamphetamine therefore remains in the brain

longer, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects.

Although both methamphetamine and cocaine increase levels of dopamine, administration of

methamphetamine in animal studies leads to much higher levels of dopamine, because nerve

cells respond differently to the two drugs. Cocaine prolongs dopamine actions in the brain by

blocking the re-absorption (re-uptake) of the neurotransmitter by signalling nerve cells. At

low doses, methamphetamine also blocks the re-uptake of dopamine, but it also increases the

release of dopamine, leading to much higher concentrations in the synapse (the gap between

neurons), which can be toxic to nerve terminals.


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What are the effects of ‘P’ contamination?

Methamphetamine use and manufacture can adversely affect people and animals for many

years to come who have the misfortune of being in a place where it was made or used.

Investigations have found meth contamination in motels rooms over three years after there

was known use or manufacture. Both smoking and manufacture destroy property and may

make people sick for years to come that inhabit, or use, the property. People who live in

houses where meth was smoked or manufactured may have enough in their systems to test

positive for it with a UA or hair testing. Furnishings and other possessions may become

contaminated to the point of needing to be discarded to protect inhabitant’s health. People

who smoke, or manufacture meth, may leave behind an invisible booby trap that can harm

anonymous people for years into the future.

Methamphetamine is a crystal that vaporizes when heated, as in smoking. The vapour clings

to surfaces and reforms into crystals. People who come in contact with these surfaces can

absorb meth through their skin or by touching contaminated surfaces then touching their

mouth, nose or eyes. Babies are especially vulnerable. They live in a world where they crawl

on all fours and everything is sampled by tasting. It takes only small amounts of meth to

affect a baby.

There seems to be little or no research on the affects of 2nd and 3rd hand meth on people or

pets, but it's safe to assume that small, chronic doses of the drug would cause the same

reactions as the users experience but on a smaller scale. Some symptoms of living with meth

contamination have been reported by people who believe they are living with meth pollution.

There are many possible sources of sick house syndrome where people and pets living or

working in a building are sickened as a result of contact with the building. Meth and mould

are the most commonly blamed sources for sick house syndrome, but there is no way to really

know without proper environmental and medical testing.

People who are exposed to meth pollution report speediness, loss of appetite, spaciness,

inability to concentrate, itchy skin, dry eyes, irritability, paranoia, colds, breathing difficulty,

sinus problems, headaches, nervousness, anxiety, acne and confusion. In more extreme cases;

convulsions and death of pets.

If your property has been used as a meth lab then the precursors can also cause major health

problems.

The ONLY way to know for certain if a property or vehicle is safe is to test it. If the

presumptive test is not negative for methamphetamine then the subsequent test should also

include a test for the precursors indicative of methamphetamine manufacture.


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How widespread is ‘P’ contamination in NZ?

The short answer is we simply don’t know.

Some testers say they get a 60 percent failure rate... some say it is closer to five percent. Short

of testing every house in New Zealand, or a genuinely random sampling thereof, there is no

reliable way to tell.

To assess the level of contamination, we need an understanding of what kind of customer

base a tester has. For example if a tester is mainly testing properties they have reason to

believe may be contaminated, then the rate of failure will be much higher than a tester who

does mainly routine pre-purchase and between tenancy testing.

Different areas in New Zealand also have different rates of failure. However having said that,

no area and no class or quality of housing is fully exempt.

Rental properties appear to be at more risk that owner/occupied properties... but all houses

are at risk.


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What is the safe limit for ‘P’?

There is no local or international standard for a safe level of methamphetamine

contamination. Various standards are applied in different areas around the world.

The Ministry of Health here in NZ have set a post-remediation limit of 0.5 micrograms per

100cm2 for properties used as methamphetamine laboratories. This has become the default

level that all properties are tested to, and any amount of methamphetamine over this limit is

regarded as a failed result.

The amount of methamphetamine present is taken as a proxy for the toxic chemicals used in

manufacture. There is certainly an argument that the level is too low for a property that has

been smoked in rather than cooked in. However the experts have not yet stated what a safe

level is, so most testers are using the 0.5micrograms/100cm2 level and testing to this

guideline.

A toxicologist was quoted on the TV show Fair Go as saying he would be happy for his

children to live in a property at a level of 12 micrograms per 100cm2.

It is also true that different people have different reactions to the presence of residual

methamphetamine. For example a level of 10-12 does not appear to affect Linda greatly for

the short time she is in a contaminated property, but a low level of 2-3 seems to affect John

greatly.

A child or a pet will be more susceptible than an adult.

We wish we could be more definitive, but we just cannot.

Perhaps these guys will get it right... See next page.

UPDATE:

The ESR are recommending (see page 15)

0.5 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has been manufactured (unchanged)

1.5 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has only been used – carpeted

2.0 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has only been used - uncarpeted.


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Govt Appoint Committee

This has been taken from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Bruce

Taylor is the Principal Advisor

Committee appointed to develop meth-testing

standard 02 JUNE 2016

A new committee is ready to go to develop a standard (NZS 8510) covering the testing and remediation

of properties contaminated by the manufacture or use of methamphetamine. The committee was

approved by the New Zealand Standards Approval Board on 4 May. Members of the committee and the

organisations they represent are as follows:

Name Organisation

Erina Mayo Environmental Science and Research

Graham Corban Hill Laboratories

Miles Stratford MethSolutions Ltd

Nardene Reynolds Forensic and Industrial Science Ltd

Dr Terry Cooney Analytica Laboratories

Paul Freeman Andy Andersons Industrial Services

Billy Royal NZ Remediation Services

John Campbell NZ Decontamination Services T/A Fresh Living

Paul Pritchard Cleaning Systems Ltd

Victor Boyd Contaminated Site Solutions Ltd

Darryl Thompson Auckland Council

Raaj Govinda Hutt City Council

Paul Prendergast Ministry of Health

Adam Gray Ministry for the Environment

Andrew Rose Housing New Zealand Corporation

Terry Jordan Insurance Council of New Zealand

Rachel Kann Independent Property Managers Association

Geoff Hallam International Accreditation NZ (IANZ)

Lisa Gerrad REINZ


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The aim of the standard is to address a need for guidance on methodologies, procedures, and other

supporting material that will ensure a consistent and effective approach to managing the testing and

remediation of affected properties and treatment of their contents.

The committee will hold its first meeting at the end of June 2016. A draft of the standard will be prepared

and released for public comment later in 2016 for a period of 2 months. The final standard is expected to

be published between the end of January and June 2017, depending on factors such as the range and

complexity of comments received from public consultation.

Standard for testing and remediation of meth-

contaminated properties

29 MARCH 2016

Standards New Zealand is preparing to start work on developing a New Zealand standard on the testing

and remediation of properties used for the manufacture or use of methamphetamine.

In 2015 Standards New Zealand prepared a proposal for Local Government New Zealand and the

Ministry of Health to apply for funding under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 to develop a

standard on the testing and remediation of properties used for the manufacture or use of

methamphetamine. Funding of $60,497 was granted in December 2015.

The development of the standard is aimed at addressing a need for guidance on methodologies,

procedures, and other supporting material that will ensure a consistent and effective approach to

managing the testing and remediation of affected properties and treatment of their contents.

It is expected that the standard will include (but not limited to):

guidance on testing properties and contents for contamination

methods of assessing risks to health, safety, and the environment from meth-related chemicals

and contaminated material

best practice procedures for decontamination and remediation of properties and contents to

acceptable levels

methods of disposal of materials that cannot be decontaminated

information that supports auditing processes, which provide assurance that testing, risk

assessment, decontamination and remediation of properties, and disposal of contaminated

materials have been effective, and comply with legislative requirements.

Potential stakeholders with interests in proposed standard NZS 8510 include:

o meth testing and clean-up/remediation companies

o laboratories that analyse samples taken from meth-contaminated properties

o health, safety, and environmental regulators

o property owners, managers, and insurers.

Standards New Zealand contacted a wide range of stakeholders in January 2016 inviting them to

nominate representatives for consideration as members of the P 8510 committee.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/51m-allocated-more-anti-drug-initiatives


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The establishment of this committee is likely to be the first to be approved by the New Zealand

Standards Approval Board (the Board) that has been formed under the Standards and Accreditation Act

2015.

Under the Act, the NZ Standards Executive (NZSE) is responsible for establishing committees that will

develop new standards, such as NZS 8510, and to refer proposals for persons to be members or

chairperson of a standards committee to the Board for approval. In making its recommendations to the

Board, the NZSE will review all the nominations received. Once the Board has approved the

membership and chair of the P 8510 committee, the NZSE will advise the successful nominees, and the

work of the committee will begin.

The Board is due to have its first meeting in mid-April and we hope to be able to give an update on

progress of the development of the standard after that.


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ESR Media Release:

Recommendations for methamphetamine contamination clean-up

26 October 2016

A Ministry of Health funded report provides key recommendations for the country's first

national standard for methamphetamine contamination.

The report, prepared by ESR, recommends that a different level be used to guide clean up

where meth has been used, compared to the level for houses where the drug has been

manufactured.

The report recommends that the current contamination level that prompts a clean-up stays the

same for houses where the drug has been manufactured but is four times higher for houses

where the drug has only been used and where there isn’t any carpet or the carpet is removed.

The level is three times higher for houses where only drug use is found, but where there is

still carpet in the house.

The report notes that drug residue on carpets is more likely to result in chronic exposure to

contamination for babies or toddlers who spend more time in contact with the floor.

The different levels reflect the level of health risk from living in a house where someone

smoked methamphetamine, and living in a house used to manufacture the drug.

Living in a methamphetamine laboratory environment means potential exposure to chemicals

at sufficient level to be linked to adverse cardiovascular, respiratory and dermal effects from

exposure to methamphetamine, organic solvents, acids, alkalis and other chemicals.

But people living in a house where previous occupants had only smoked methamphetamine

means potential exposure to low concentrations of the drug on surfaces with a much reduced

risk of toxicity.

The recommendations for houses with carpets in which there has only been drug use follow

those used in California, and which are increasingly being adopted by other US states.

Based on the recommendations now provided, the Ministry of Health believes houses which

don't trigger the clean-up levels for methamphetamine are as safe to occupy as any other

similar house.

The Ministry of Health believes the new recommendations will help guide clean-up efforts

based on an appropriate assessment of risk. The recommendations will now be considered by

the committee appointed by Standards NZ to develop the new standard.

In the absence of a guideline for remediating property contaminated by methamphetamine

use but not manufacture, these recommendations can be used in the interim. But the

recommendations will not pre-empt the standard which is currently being developed.


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While the Ministry's recommendations are being considered by the Standards Committee, its

recommendations will be placed on the Ministry's website alongside its existing guidelines.

The new NZ Standard, once developed, will supersede the Ministry's existing Guidelines.

The Ministry of Health, which is also on the NZ Standards Committee considering the issue,

will be working with agencies involved to look at how promote information about the new

standard when it’s developed.

The recommended levels identified in the report are:

0.5 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has been manufactured (unchanged)

1.5 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has only been used – carpeted

2.0 µg/100cm2 for houses where the drug has only been used - uncarpeted.

Please attribute comments to Acting Director of Public Health Dr Stewart Jessamine.

For more information contact Peter Abernethy 021 366 111

ENDS

Background:

Several agencies have roles related to the remediation of methamphetamine contaminated

buildings. The lead agency (regulator) for dealing with methamphetamine contaminated

buildings is the local council. Councils can take action using their powers under the Building

Act 2004 or the Health Act 1956.

These actions may include:

• recording the contamination on the property’s Project Information Memorandum (PIM) or

Land Information Memorandum (LIM)

• requiring the building owner to clean and/or close the building

• requiring the building owner to re-test the building

• requiring the building owner to demolish the building.

While not the regulator, the Ministry of Health developed guidelines for the remediation of

clandestine methamphetamine labs. These guidelines are now over six years old.

In 2015 Standards NZ (MBIE) began work to develop a new standard for dealing with

methamphetamine contaminated buildings.

In 2016, the Ministry of Health contracted ESR to undertake an independent review of the

current guidelines to provide updated advice on the values for remediating methamphetamine

contaminated buildings. The scope included seeking advice on both remediation of properties

used as clandestine labs and solely for recreational use.

The ESR report has now been received by the Ministry and the recommendations form the

advice the Ministry is presenting to Standards NZ Committee which is working on the

development of the new meth standards.

The analysis includes a review of evidence and comparison of the risk assessment approaches

used in New Zealand, Australia, Colorado and particularly California (which is based on a

comprehensive review of the toxicological literature, using human data, and noted as the

preferred comparison value for a safe daily exposure).


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The ESR report also recommends an extra test for the presence of lead and mercury as part of

the clean-up of clandestine labs.


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What does it mean if your property fails a test?

It means that your property has tested above the 0.5micrograms/100cm2 level in one or more

locations tested.

(UPDATE: If a property fails a screening test (level 1) then level 2 testing is required. This

will determine if the drug was manufactured or just smoked, and also the exact level of

contamination. It could well be that no remediation is needed up to 2.0 micro grams per

100cm2.)

Please read the next section about testing methods to assess the accuracy of the test used.

Assuming the test was accurate, and based on the current accepted guidelines, then people

living in the property should move out as soon as possible. Their clothes, furniture and other

chattels may need to be washed, decontaminated, or discarded.

(NOTE: buying second hand goods has become a riskier proposition as well!)

The house will need to be remediated and the level of remediation depends on the level of

methamphetamine and precursors present.

These levels of remediation range from a really good wash down of hard surfaces and

cleaning of carpet and curtains to stripping the plaster board, carpet, curtains, doors,

cupboards and appliances out of the house and replacing everything.

After remediation, the property needs to be tested again with a level 3 test before the house is

painted, has new plaster board put up and before new carpet, curtains and appliance are

replaced. Soil, water and air may need to be tested as well.

Unfortunately for landlords, it also means that if you cannot prove the tenant was the person

who contaminated the property, you will be liable to refunding rent and replacing damaged

property belonging to the tenant. The only way to protect yourself is to test between tenancies

so you can prove the property was not contaminated prior to the tenant moving in.


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Types of testing and when to use them

There are many different tests and different ways of using these tests. What I outline here is

best practice for the most usual tests used in NZ and you should compare the methodology of

the tester you select with this list before employing them.

Level 1 - MMC Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests (Marketed in NZ as Check4Meth)

This is known as Level 1 Testing

MMC International BV is the manufacturer of presumptive narcotic tests for many

years. They have developed very specific narcotic tests in accordance with the

forensic standards.

The MMC Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests test for the presence of controlled

substances in powders, tablets, liquids, resins and on surfaces.

The Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests are very accurate and sensitive.

The tests only require nanograms of the substance for accurate testing.

First the site of the sampling is carefully selected by a trained technician, and the

template is applied to the surface. The swab is dipped into the buffer solution and


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rubbed across the area outlined by the template. This transfers any methamphetamine

present on the surface to the swab. The swab is returned to the buffer solution and via

stirring and then agitation the sample is dissolved in the buffer solution.

Once the sample is obtained and dissolved in the buffer solution, the resulting liquid

is dripped into the tray of the cassette (a bit like a pregnancy test) and the result is

read within 1-5 minutes.

Advantages of the MMC Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests are:

Very sensitive

Able to detect the presence of drugs in a sample at levels of <1 ppm (part per

million)

Quick results (Visual in 1-2 minutes)

Specificity MMC FNT Tests Vs. GC-GC/MS: Negative: 99.38%, Positive:

97.45%

No hazardous chemicals

User friendly

Highly cost effective in comparison to laboratory screening

As reliable and accurate as laboratory screening

No cross contamination as each test is supplied with a separate dropper

of buffer solution

It is possible to test the remaining buffer solution to get an accurate amount of

methamphetamine and to confirm results.

Disadvantages of the MMC Presumptive Forensic Narcotic Tests are:

This is a pass or fail test at the 0.5micrograms per 100cm2 level. Therefore if

the test shows a fail, further testing is required.


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Ideal for:

Pre-purchase screening

Routine testing between tenancies

Any occasion where there is not a high level of suspicion

In the control of a professional technician who knows how to use this test correctly

and is committed to getting an accurate result, this test is both very useful and cost

effective.

IN ALL CASES only one site can be tested with one swab and cassette.

Never allow any tester to use the swab without a template and/or in more than one

place in the property with the same swab.


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Levels 2 and 3 - Laboratory Testing

This is known as Level 2 Testing

These are two examples of the kits used to obtain samples as supplied by IANZ

professional laboratories.

The kit contains:

Template

Swab in a test tube

Gloves

Rubber adhesive (similar to BluTak)

Contained in a separate plastic bag for each test kit

A properly trained technician will first select a suitable site to be tested.

The template will be applied to the wall. (See pic below)


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Using a fresh pair of gloves (being careful not to cross-contaminate) the technician

will remove the swab from the test tube and use it to obtain a sample from within the

template area.

This swab will then be returned to the test tube, the details recorded on the outside of

the test tube and also on the order form and the tube is replaced in the plastic bag.

At least one site per room (including hallways and stairwells) will normally be tested.

A fresh testing kit, including the use of fresh gloves, is to be used for each site tested.

The test is designed to test for the amount of methamphetamine and precursors

present in an area of 100cm2 (as per the template). After the samples are sent to a

laboratory then the results will be available in 2-3 days.

Advantages of using Laboratory Testing:

Actual levels are given (if chemicals are present at a concentration of

0.02microgams/100cm2 or higher).

Gives levels of precursors as well as methamphetamine

Disadvantages of using Laboratory Testing:

It takes 2-3 working days for results to be known.

It costs much more than the MMC Presumptive test

Results under the ‘safe’ level of 0.5micrograms per 100cm2 can be a barrier to

buyers being confident about buying a property.

Ideal for:

Testing properties that have failed the MMC test

Testing properties that appear to be high risk

Post-remediation Testing


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In the control of a professional technician who knows how to use this test

correctly and is committed to getting an accurate result, this test is very useful.

IN ALL CASES only one site can be tested with one swab (which is two pieces of

cloth in one test tube).

Never allow any technician to use the swab without a template and/or in more

than one place in the property.

(See an actual report on the next page showing methamphetamine and precursor

levels)

Alternative 1 - Laboratory Composite Testing

This is a less expensive option where the level 2 swabs are taken as above but,

when the laboratory technicians receive the test tubes, they combine a small

amount of each test into a single process. This gives you an overall indication if

there is methamphetamine present in the property or not. If meth is present, then

the technician can go back to the individual samples and test them separately to

determine the levels in all areas of the property.

Advantages of using Laboratory Composite Testing:

Actual levels are given (if chemicals are present at a concentration of

0.02microgams/100cm2 or higher).

Gives levels of precursors as well as methamphetamine

Disadvantages of using Laboratory Composite Testing:

It takes 2-3 working days for results to be known.

It costs more than the MMC Presumptive test

If the property fails then further testing of samples will be required and

this will cost the same as if the Level 2 testing had been done (in addition

to the cost of the laboratory composite testing).

Ideal for:

Testing properties that appear to be high risk


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Not recommended - Field Composite Testing

This test involves using the Laboratory Test in a manner it was not designed to

be used.

One single swab is used in multiple areas of the property and then the single

test tube is sent to the laboratory for processing.

Advantages of Composite Testing

It’s cheap

Disadvantages of Composite Testing:

It takes 2-3 days to get a result

There is a certainty that there will be cross contamination if there is

any methamphetamine present in any of the sites sampled

It is almost impossible to read the results in a meaningful way unless

the result is negative

o If 5 sites were sampled, and the result was a level of 4.0

micrograms per 100cm2 x5 then you could be looking at 4.0

micrograms in one of those sites (and 0.0 in the rest), 2.0

micrograms in two sites and it has accumulated or 5.0 in one

site and then the result has ben diluted with the subsequent

swabbing being done.

Ideal for:

It’s just not ideal for any testing in our opinion.


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Strip Testing

A strip test is done with a slim strip of paper similar to this:

I am not aware of anyone in NZ using this type of testing.


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Random Sampling

All any tester can do is take random samples in a property. It is quite possible (and it has

happened) that two samples in the same room will return different results. There are some

rules that need to be followed in selecting sample sites, and that is where good training is

essential.

The technique used by the technician is also important to get accurate and consistent results.

Everyone associated with Drug Safe NZ is properly trained and supervised on the job before

being allowed to test properties alone.

Reporting Results

The report that is produced includes photographs of every site sampled, all the heat services

(cook top, wood stove) and also the wet areas.

A thorough inspection of the property inside and out is carried out to look for any physical

signs of methamphetamine use or manufacture. Photographs of the outside area are also

included in the report.

Every property that has passed our testing is issued with a Drug Safe Certificate like this:

Which is useful as a sales tool and also as a snapshot reminder of the day the property was

last tested.


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Conflicts of Interest

One of the major concerns of home owners – and one that is brought to our attention

regularly – is the possibility of the tester having a conflict of interest.

Everyone at Drug Safe NZ has one objective only – to give the home owner, buyer or tenant

an accurate result.

In discussions with a representative of REINZ we talked about the wisdom of real estate

agents or their partners doing the testing and it was clear that this created a conflict of interest

and did not serve the client’s best interests.

And apart from a conflict of interest, there is the issue of confidentiality. Especially in small

towns, we all know how information can spread. One thing you can count on with Drug Safe

NZ is that we hold our clients’ results confidential.

Some building companies and some remediation companies also do testing – we see this as a

conflict of interest as well as they get to make money from the remediation of contaminated

properties.

So our recommendation is to only use an independent meth testing company for testing.


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About the Authors

John and Linda Reid have been doing methamphetamine testing since 2013. They founded

Drug Safe NZ Ltd in response to a demand from friends in the real estate business who

needed someone to do testing for them.

John is a retired veterinarian with a B.V.Sc and a post graduate diploma in Business Studies

(Real Estate). He worked in a large animal veterinary practice in Taranaki for many years,

and followed this with several years as GM for an animal health remedies company. While

not active in the real estate industry anymore, he had a successful career with both Harcourts

and owning a REMAX franchise in South Auckland.

He has an impeccable background in relation to undertaking testing houses for

methamphetamine contamination.

Linda has a history of owning and running business – mostly in the newspaper industry. She

has trained as a technician to take samples and is in charge of the business side of Drug Safe

NZ Ltd.

a guide to testing houses and commercial properties for ... - …drugsafe.nz/guide to the meth test...

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