Methamphetamine use and manufacture in Australia have increasingly been on the rise.

Unlike other recreational stimulant drugs, methamphetamine is relatively easy to manufacture, due to the ease of obtaining reagents and it can be “cooked” in quite small areas.

During manufacture, methamphetamine, including its salt, may persist on surrounding surfaces for months or even years. Failure to adequately clean a site where methamphetamine has been smoked or, even worse, manufactured, leaves substantial methamphetamine and organic chemical residues, which can be easily absorbed, especially by young children and toddlers, posing a risk to people living in that environment years after the contamination occurred.

Exposure to methamphetamine through surface contamination can cause significant health problems such as skin, eye and respiratory irritation, dizziness, headaches, cardiovascular effects and insomnia.

Safework Health’s meth residue testing service meets stringent requirements under ISO/IEC 17025. This includes the testing and analysis of filter, swab and wipe samples for illicit drugs, such as:

We also provide a fully validated and externally verified method for testing.

There are currently no formal standards covering methamphetamine surface testing. However, we use the Australian National Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines. We also follow the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup’.

Additionally, Safework Health has received full accreditation from NATA.

Safework Health is one of a select few companies qualified by WA Health for testing and remediating chemical residues. WA Health has provided a detailed list of qualified Forensic Testers, Cleaning Contractors and Laboratory Analysis Providers.

If you suspect meth manufacturing or smoking has occurred in your home, it is important to follow the Department’s guidance for testing or clean-up.

Safework Health’s Methamphetamine Surface Collection Kits are compliant with “NIOSH 9111 Methanol on Wipes” accredited standard.

To purchase a kit email us at info@swhealth.com.au