Capabilities › Drug Residue

Drug Residue Testing

Surface wipe sampling and analysis for methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, fentanyl, cannabinoids and other illicit drug residues — for property assessment, clandestine lab investigations, rental property management and law enforcement support.

LC-MS/MS

Analytical method

13+

Illicit drug compounds

7 day

Sample stability on wipe media

Overview

Drug Residue Contamination in Properties

During the manufacture of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs, volatile chemicals become airborne and deposit onto surfaces — benchtops, tiles, walls, ceilings, carpets, ventilation ducts, and flooring. These residues can persist long after a clandestine lab has been dismantled and removed by law enforcement.
Exposure to residual drug and precursor chemical contamination can cause a range of health effects for subsequent occupants, including skin irritation, headaches, respiratory symptoms, and more serious health impacts from prolonged low-level exposure to precursor chemicals.

Property liability: Owners of homes, rental properties, and businesses may be exposed to legal liability if they lease or sell a contaminated property without disclosure. Testing and remediation records provide documented due diligence.

Clandestine labs can be set up using common household chemicals and equipment
Pseudoephedrine - found in over-the-counter cold and flu medications - is the most common precursor
Contamination is not always visible and cannot be detected by smell alone
Properties may appear clean following removal of equipment but remain chemically contaminated
Testing before purchase or occupation is the only reliable way to confirm safety

Analytes

Drugs & Precursors Tested

Analysis is conducted using LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry) — the same technology used for PFAS and pharmaceutical testing. This provides highly sensitive, compound-specific identification and quantification at trace levels in wipe and water samples.

DMT capability: Envirolab Sydney's LC-MS/MS section has established a capability for N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in wipe samples — contact us to discuss requirements for compounds not listed above.

Standard suite

Extended screen

Opioids / other

Sample matrices

Sampling Kit

Envirolab Drug Wipe Sampling Kit

Envirolab provides a complete sampling kit for wipe sample collection. The kit contains everything needed to collect a properly standardised 100 cm² surface sample suitable for laboratory analysis. Contact us to order kits before you attend the property.

Preservation: Once collected, cap the tube securely and keep refrigerated (<6°C). Methamphetamine and most related amines are stable on wipe media for at least 7 days at room temperature, but refrigeration is strongly recommended as soon as possible after collection.

1x single-use wipe

pre-moistened sampling wipe

1X CARDBOARD TEMPLATE

100 cm² (10 cm × 10 cm) for consistent sampling area

1x 50ML CENTRIFUGE TUBE

sample container post-wipe

1X PAIR OF NITRILE GLOVES

single-use, included per sample

Wipe Technique

How to Collect a Wipe Sample

Surface wipe sampling follows NIOSH Method 9111 "Methamphetamine on Wipes by LC/MS." Two techniques are used depending on surface type — select the appropriate method before beginning.

Labelling: Label each tube clearly with a unique sample ID. Record the sample location (e.g. "kitchen benchtop", "bathroom floor") on your Chain of Custody form — location information is critical for interpreting results and mapping contamination.

Technique A - Smooth & non-porous surfaces

Concentric Squares Method

1. Secure template to surface with tape along the outer edge.
2. Without unfolding the wipe, apply firm pressure and wipe in concentric squares from an inside corner, progressing toward the centre.
3. End with a scooping motion at the centre.
4. Reverse the last fold so the exposed side faces inward. Wipe the same area again using a fresh surface.
5. Roll or fold the wipe and insert into the 50 mL tube. Cap securely.

Technique B — Rough, porous or soiled surfaces

Side-to-Side "Z/N" Method

1. Secure template to surface with tape along the outer edge.
2. Without unfolding, apply firm pressure and make at least five overlapping horizontal passes top to bottom in a "Z" pattern.
3. Reverse fold so exposed side faces inward. Make at least five overlapping vertical passes left to right in an "N" pattern.
4. Roll or fold the wipe and insert into the 50 mL tube. Cap securely.

Water & Wastewater

Drug Screening in Water & Wastewater

In addition to surface wipe testing, Envirolab can screen water and wastewater samples for illicit drug compounds. Wastewater-based epidemiology is increasingly used by researchers and public health agencies to understand community-level drug use patterns without individual testing.

Full illicit drug screen in water and wastewater matrices
Methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, opioids, cannabinoids and more
Suitable for research programs, water authority monitoring, and forensic investigation
2 × 60 mL bottles cooled to <6°C — contact us for specific preservation requirements

Wastewater epidemiology: If you're working on a community drug monitoring program or research project requiring regular wastewater screening, contact us to discuss a tailored testing program and reporting format.

Ready to get started?

Talk to our team about your soil testing requirements — fast turnaround, NATA accredited, Australia-wide.