METHFACT SHEET
WHAT IS METH?
Methamphetamine (P, ice, meth or crystal
meth) is a highly addictive stimulant drug
that affects the central nervous system. It is
a white, odourless, bitter tasting, crystalline
powder that is produced by cooking
chemicals in a “clan lab”.
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WHAT IS A CLAN LAB?A clan (clandestine) lab is a makeshift laboratory for the manufacture of illicit
drugs. The most common drug produced in clan labs is P/meth/ice. Clan labs can
be easily set up in a residential property, commercial property or motel unit, and
only require access to running water and a power source.
It is estimated that a clan lab producing one kilogram of P/meth/ice creates
seven kilograms of toxic by-product (P/meth/ice pollution), contaminating the
property with residue containing carcinogens.
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WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS?
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TOXIC VAPOUR.
METHAMPHETAMINEFACT SHEET
Exposure to P/meth/ice residues
can create significant short
and long-term health risks.
Meth’s toxic vapours permeate
the property surfaces and those
exposed to these surfaces can
ingest the contaminants.
Babies and small children
exposed to the toxic by-products
tend to suffer a higher degree
of health issues. The safety of
you, your family or your clients
is paramount.
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ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
Save yourself a whole lot of heartache.
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Adherence to the Standard within
the industry is voluntary
A cut off of 1.5 µg/100cm2 in high
use areas (areas of a property
frequently used by people) based
on an individual sample
A cut off of 3.8 µg/100cm2 in
limited use areas (i.e roof spaces
and crawl spaces) based on an
individual sample
If the level of meth detected in
any one high use area exceeds
1.5 µg/100cm2, professional
decontamination is required
A requirement to achieve an
NZQA qualification to be able to
carry out certain sampling
(the training framework is yet to
be developed)
A requirement to achieve
accreditation to be able to
carry out certain sampling
(the accreditation framework is
yet to be developed)
The creation of a validation
process for on site testing devices
In June 2017 Standards New Zealand released the NZS 8510:2017 Standard - Testing and decontamination of
methamphetamine-contaminated properties.
Some of the main points within this Standard include:
Are there any guidelines relating to meth in properties?
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PEACE OF MIND
WHEN YOU
NEED IT.
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PRE-PURCHASE: To identify if the property contains
P/meth/ice contamination before
you purchase
PRE/POST-OCCUPANCY: To provide a clear baseline
prior to a tenant moving in or out
of your property
MID-OCCUPANCY: To ensure your property doesn’t
become affected by meth
contamination during the tenancy
CUSTOMISED: To suit the client’s needs (including
vehicles, caravans, individual
rooms etc)
A property methamphetamine test can provide valuable baseline information for a number of circumstances
including due diligence; bank and/or insurance requirements.
When should I get a property tested?
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HOW CAN TDDA ASSIST YOU?Not all property meth testing is created equal. The Drug Detection Agency’s
(TDDA) property methamphetamine inspection services are designed to ensure
the best information is available when needed.
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Testing OptionsCan Detect
Meth
Can Detect Meth to Low
Levels
NIOSH 9111 Compliant
NZS 8510 Standard Compliant
Service Offered by TDDA
On-site Kits Only if validated by the NZS 8510
process
Field Composite (Indicative Wipe)
Lab Composite Analysis
Lab Individual Swab Analysis
Testing Options
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TIER 1:
• Is compliant with the NZS 8510 Standard
• Is compliant with NIOSH 9111 collection method
• Has analysis carried out by an IANZ
accredited lab
• Provides the best information for each individual
site swabbed
• Provides a result that can be compared with the
NZS 8510 Standard limit
• Can report on very low levels of meth present
• Individual swabs are collected from specific,
identified areas within the property and sent to
an IANZ accredited lab
• Each swab is individually analysed by the lab.
The reported results are for each individual
swab, providing the highest level of information
to the client
This service provides the most complete information on meth contamination levels of the areas swabbed within a property. This method:
Lab Individual Swab Analysis
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TIER 2:
• Is compliant with the NZS 8510 Standard
• Is compliant with NIOSH 9111 collection method
• Has analysis carried out by an IANZ accredited lab
• Provides a result that can be compared with the
NZS 8510 Standard limit
• Individual swabs are collected from specific,
identified areas within the property and sent to
an IANZ accredited lab
• Can report on very low levels of meth present
• The lab combines the swabs to create a
composite analysis. This analysis represents an
average concentration of methamphetamine
• If the result does indicate a positive analysis, TDDA
can then arrange Lab Individual Swab Analysis at
your request
This service provides an average concentration reading of meth of the areas swabbed within a property. This method:
Lab Composite Analysis
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TIER 3:
• Is compliant with the NZS 8510 Standard
• Has analysis carried out by an IANZ accredited lab
• Provides a result that can be compared with the
NZS 8510 Standard limits
• A sample is comprised of multiple wipe samples
collected from seperate locations but analysed as
a single sample
• Can report on very low levels of meth present
• A field Composite sample analysis represents
a sum or accumulation of each of the
individual wipes
• If the result does indicate a positive analysis, TDDA
can then arrange a more detailed inspection at
your request
This service provides a simple indication as to whether meth is present in a property or not.
Field composite analysis
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When you deal with TDDA you
can be confident you are
getting services that offer true
national coverage, superior
methodology, knowledgeable
people who genuinely care
about what they do and
internationally recognised
standards of quality. TDDA hold
accreditations for drug testing in
both New Zealand and Australia
and apply the same high level of
service and expertise to their
property methamphetamine
inspection services.
WHY USE TDDA?
When it comes to drugs – TDDA are the experts
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Contact TDDA today to discuss a service that best suits your needs.
www.tdda.com | 0508 DRUGTEST
Download TDDA’s smartphone family & property drug awareness app by searching “The Drug Detection App Family/Property” on your app store today