Meth Testing in Adelaide

Meth testing in Adelaide: Test Australia collects surface wipe samples to NIOSH Method 9111, a NATA-accredited laboratory analyses them by LC-MS/MS, and every report is signed. Results are compared with the national investigation level of 0.5 µg/100 cm². We test and report. We do not clean or remediate.

Test Australia tests Adelaide houses, units and rentals for methamphetamine residue. The report explains the results, the assessment criteria used and the limitations. Test Australia Pty Ltd is not NATA-accredited.

Next step: call 1300 445 558 or request a fee proposal with the Adelaide address and the question you need answered.

Who meth testing in Adelaide is for

The method is the same whoever engages us. The report is written for the person who engages us and the question they ask.

• Buyers. Test before you sign or before settlement, with the vendor's agreement to access. A clan lab notice may show on the Form 1, but residue from drug use usually leaves no record.
• Landlords and property managers. Test between tenancies, after a concern is raised, or before re-letting. Where section 67B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 applies, the Act and regulations set who must test and how. See the law section below.
• Tenants. Test a home you rent or are about to move into if you have a concern. The report gives you and your landlord the same measured results.
• Owners. Test a home you own after a tenancy, a sale falling through, or council correspondence.
• Strata and body corporate managers. Test a unit or common area where a concern affects more than one owner.
• Insurers and loss adjusters. Test to measure residue at a claim property, with a report that states the method, results and limits.
• Real estate agents and conveyancers. Refer a buyer, vendor or landlord who needs measured results. We report to the person who engages us.

What a meth assessment in Adelaide covers

An Adelaide meth assessment starts with the question you need answered: is there residue in this house or unit, where is it, and how much? Test Australia collects surface wipe samples from defined areas in each room to NIOSH Method 9111, a US surface-wipe method for methamphetamine that specifies the wipe technique, the template area and blank and quality-control samples. Samples are analysed by an independent NATA-accredited laboratory by LC-MS/MS following NIOSH Method 9111. Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited.

Results come back in micrograms per 100 square centimetres for each sample location, and the report compares them against the national investigation level. 0.5 µg/100 cm² is the residential indoor-surface investigation level for methylamphetamine in the Australian Government's Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (2011). A result above it triggers further investigation or remediation. It is not a line between safe and unsafe, and it applies whether residue came from use or manufacture. Read more about the 0.5 µg/100 cm² investigation level. No concentration on its own shows that a property or vehicle was used for manufacture. An opinion on manufacture rests on manufacture-specific markers and site evidence, assessed together, and the report states its limits. The full method is described on the national meth testing page.

How meth testing in Adelaide works

1. Enquiry. Email info@testaustralia.com.au or call 1300 445 558 with the Adelaide address and the question you need answered (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Adelaide time).
2. Scope and fee proposal. Every assessment is scoped to the question being asked. We reply with a written scope, the fee and available dates.
3. Sampling. Test Australia collects wipe samples to NIOSH Method 9111 from measured template areas in the agreed rooms, with field blanks and chain-of-custody records.
4. Laboratory. A NATA-accredited laboratory analyses the samples by LC-MS/MS.
5. Report. Every report is signed. It sets out the method, chain of custody, results and limitations.

What you receive

You receive a signed report that sets out the method, the results, the criterion each result is compared with, and the limitations. Its contents follow the scope agreed for your property.

If a report may be used in a tenancy dispute, it can be prepared in line with the expert-evidence requirements of SACAT. Whether a tribunal or insurer relies on a report is a decision for them.

What affects the cost of meth testing in Adelaide

We do not publish a price list, because no two jobs are the same. You receive a written fee proposal before any work starts. The main cost drivers are:

• the size of the home and the number of rooms and sampling locations
• the purpose: a check before purchase, a tenancy matter or a report for a dispute
• which drugs are analysed (methamphetamine only, or other drugs through our drug residue testing)
• whether testing is needed before and after a clean by others
• travel to regional South Australia outside the Adelaide metro area.

For more on pricing, read how much meth testing costs in Australia.

Next step: call 1300 445 558 or request a fee proposal with the Adelaide address and the question you need answered.

Professional assessment or a home screening kit?

They answer different questions.

• Home screening kit. A 5-minute lateral flow presumptive screen with a cut-off of 0.5 µg/100 cm². It shows whether methamphetamine may be present above that cut-off. It is not laboratory analysis and does not measure a concentration. SA Health says kit results alone are not acceptable in a clan lab site assessment or validation.
• Professional assessment. Wipe samples collected to NIOSH Method 9111 by Test Australia, analysed by a NATA-accredited laboratory by LC-MS/MS, and reported with results for each location, the criterion used and the limitations.

A kit can be a sensible first step where there is no notice and no dispute. If a screen is positive or uncertain, or the result may be challenged, laboratory testing is the next step. See the meth test kit and how to use a meth test kit.

Testing before and after cleaning by others

Test Australia does not clean, decontaminate or recommend cleaners. That keeps the testing separate from the clean. SA Health says remediation providers should have no association with the assessor.

• Before a clean. Testing shows whether residue is present and which rooms and surfaces returned the highest results. That helps the owner scope the work.
• After a clean. Samples are taken at locations comparable to the earlier testing. The report states the results against the criterion named in it.

South Australian rules that matter for meth testing

In South Australia, former drug laboratories are dealt with under the South Australian Public Health (Clandestine Drug Laboratories) Policy 2016, which SA Health made under section 53 of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011. It sits alongside the Practice Guideline for the Management of Clandestine Drug Laboratories under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011.

The policy exists to support local government environmental health officers to make sure properties used as clandestine drug laboratories do not present a risk to public health, by having contamination assessed and, where required, remediated. SA Health also publishes a fact sheet for homeowners, A clandestine drug laboratory was detected on my property — what happens now?

For rented homes, tenancies are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA). A measured report gives a council officer, a landlord and a tenant the same results to work from. This is general information, not legal advice. The responsible body for each rule is named above.

What South Australian law says: rentals, sales and notices

The section above covers SA Health's policy. These are the other South Australian rules that affect meth residue, each linked to the official source.

• Rentals: testing after drug-related conduct. Under section 67B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, a landlord who becomes aware that drug-related conduct has occurred at a rental must, as soon as reasonably practicable, give the tenant notice that the premises will be tested, and it is an offence not to test within one month. The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2025 define drug-related conduct as the manufacture, smoking, consumption or administration of a controlled drug, and require testing by a qualified assessor in accordance with the national guidelines, with a written report of results and remediation recommendations. If testing shows contamination, the landlord must have it remediated so the premises meet the minimum housing standards under the Housing Improvement Act 2016. (Residential Tenancies Act 1995, ss 67B and 80A, and Residential Tenancies Regulations 2025, regs 5 and 17)
• Police-notified drug labs. The policy treats a clandestine drug laboratory, defined as premises or a vehicle used for unlawful manufacture, as a risk to public health. The council issues the owner a site assessment notice under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 requiring the premises to be kept unoccupied and assessed by a suitably qualified expert. A remediation and validation notice follows if needed. SA Health and the Housing Safety Authority flag notified labs on the South Australian Integrated Land Information System (SAILIS), and the Housing Safety Authority places the property on its Substandard Properties Register until a satisfactory validation report is accepted. (Policy 2016, and SA Health fact sheet for homeowners)
• Who assesses a notified lab. SA Health says assessments of police-notified labs must be done by a suitably qualified and independent expert with experience in environmental engineering, environmental science, environmental health or occupational hygiene and a tertiary qualification in one of those disciplines. Kit results alone are not acceptable in a site assessment or validation, and remediation providers should have no association with the assessor. (SA Health guidance for suitably qualified experts)
• Selling. The Form 1 vendor's statement under section 7 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994 includes items for notices under section 92 of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 and for orders and notices under the Housing Improvement Act 2016. SA Health's practice guideline says clan lab notices are issued under section 92. (Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Regulations 2025, Schedule 1, Practice Guideline and Law Handbook: the Form 1)
• Disputes. Residential tenancy disputes are heard by the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). (SACAT)
• National investigation level. 0.5 µg/100 cm² is the residential indoor-surface investigation level for methylamphetamine in the Australian Government's Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (2011). A result above it triggers further investigation or remediation. It is not a line between safe and unsafe, and it applies whether residue came from use or manufacture. (Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines)

This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact the body named for each rule or a lawyer.

Working in Adelaide

Test Australia attends in person across the Adelaide metropolitan area. The sampling plan follows the layout of the home rather than a fixed number of swabs: bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, bathrooms and any shed or garage used as living space.

Regional South Australia outside the Adelaide metro area is attended by arrangement. Contact us with the address and the question you need answered and we will confirm whether and when we can attend.

Testing a car, ute, caravan or motorhome? See vehicle meth testing in Adelaide. Concerned about damp or mould as well? See mould inspection in Adelaide.

To see the questions we are engaged to answer, read about the types of assessment work we do.

Limitations of meth testing in Adelaide

• Results describe the surfaces sampled on the day. Residue is often uneven, and areas not sampled are not described by the results.
• No test proves that a home is free of residue. A result below the investigation level applies to the locations sampled.
• Recent cleaning, painting or new fittings can change what surfaces show.
• No concentration on its own shows whether residue came from use or manufacture. Source questions need site evidence and professional judgement.
• A police-notified drug lab has a wider minimum assessment program set by SA Health. Ask about scope when you enquire.
• The report is a scientific opinion, not legal advice.

Next step: call 1300 445 558 or request a fee proposal with the Adelaide address and the question you need answered.

Questions about meth testing in Adelaide

Who follows up a former drug lab in South Australia?

Local council environmental health officers follow up, supported by SA Health's South Australian Public Health (Clandestine Drug Laboratories) Policy 2016. They make sure a property used as a clandestine drug laboratory has its contamination assessed and, where required, remediated. This is general information, not legal advice.

Does the SA policy only cover methamphetamine?

No. SA Health says the assessment and remediation processes apply to the manufacture of any illicit drug, excluding synthetic opioids. Testing for drugs other than methamphetamine is covered by our Adelaide drug residue testing service. SA Health made the policy under section 53 of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011.

What does 0.5 µg/100 cm² mean for an Adelaide home?

It is an investigation level, not a line between safe and unsafe. The national guidelines use 0.5 µg/100 cm² for indoor residential surfaces. A result above it triggers further investigation or remediation, and it applies whether residue came from use or manufacture.

Does a landlord in South Australia have to test a rental for meth?

In some cases, yes. Under section 67B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, a landlord who becomes aware that drug-related conduct has occurred at the premises must give the tenant notice that the premises will be tested, and test within one month. The regulations define drug-related conduct as manufacturing, smoking, consuming or administering a controlled drug.

Can a South Australian landlord end a tenancy because of drug contamination?

In some cases, yes. Under section 80A, a landlord may give notice of termination if aware the tenant engaged in, or allowed another person to engage in, drug-related conduct at the premises, and section 67B testing shows contamination from that conduct. The prescribed notice says remediation costs may be recovered from the bond. Tenancy disputes are heard by SACAT.

Will the Form 1 vendor statement show a former drug lab?

It may. The Form 1 schedule asks about notices under section 92 of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011, and SA Health's practice guideline says clan lab notices are issued under that section. Notified labs are flagged on SAILIS. Residue from drug use never notified to police is unlikely to appear on these records, so test if it matters.

What happens after police find a drug lab at an SA property?

Police notify the public health authority, usually the council, which issues the owner a site assessment notice requiring the property be kept unoccupied and assessed by a suitably qualified expert. If remediation is needed, a further notice requires clean-up and validation sampling. SA Health and the Housing Safety Authority flag the property until a satisfactory validation report is accepted.

Is a home test kit accepted for a South Australian drug lab assessment?

No. SA Health's guidance for clan lab assessors says colorimetric kits can be a screening tool to guide sampling, but kit results alone are not acceptable in a site assessment or validation assessment. Laboratory analysis of wipe samples is needed. A kit can still be a first screen where there is no notice and no specific concern.

Where are rental disputes heard in South Australia?

The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). The Residential Tenancies Act 1995 names SACAT as the Tribunal, and SACAT lists housing and rental matters such as breaches and the end of a tenancy. A laboratory report gives the landlord, the tenant and the Tribunal the same measured results. Test Australia does not give legal advice.

Does Test Australia clean or decontaminate properties in Adelaide?

No. Test Australia tests and reports. It does not clean, decontaminate or recommend cleaners. SA Health says remediation providers should have no association with the assessor and should not engage the assessor for post-remediation validation. Testing before a clean shows where residue is. Testing afterwards reports the results against the investigation level.

Who collects the samples and who analyses them in Adelaide?

Test Australia's suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect the samples to NIOSH Method 9111. A NATA-accredited laboratory analyses them by LC-MS/MS. Every report is signed. Test Australia Pty Ltd itself is not NATA-accredited. The report sets out the method, the results, the criterion each result is compared with, and the limitations.

How much does meth testing cost in Adelaide?

It depends on the job, so we send a written fee proposal rather than a price list. The main drivers are the size of the home and the number of sampling locations, the purpose of the report, which drugs are analysed, and travel outside the Adelaide metro area. Request a fee proposal with the address and your question.

What do I receive after meth testing in Adelaide?

A signed written report. It sets out the method, the results, the criterion each result is compared with, and the limitations, and explains what the results mean for your question. Reports are available within 5 business days of the laboratory results being received.

Can you test an Adelaide home after someone else has cleaned it?

Yes. Test Australia does not clean or recommend cleaners, so testing after a clean is independent of the work. Samples are taken at locations comparable to any earlier testing, and the report states the results against the criterion named in it. Tell us who did the clean and what earlier results exist when you enquire.

What standards does meth remediation in Adelaide follow?

Meth remediation in Adelaide is generally done to the national Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (2011) and IICRC S900, published in 2025. S900 covers the remediation of precursors, drug residues and associated chemical waste. Test Australia does not remediate. It tests independently after the work to check the outcome against the criterion named in the report.

Related Adelaide testing pages

• Contamination testing in Adelaide (all services)
• Meth Testing across Australia (method and background)
• Vehicle Meth Testing in Adelaide
• Meth test kit (home screening)
• Mould Inspection in Adelaide
• Drug Residue Testing in Adelaide
• Bacteria Testing in Adelaide
• Fire Damage Assessment in Adelaide
• Meth testing in Adelaide and South Australia (guide)