Methamphetamine (P) Surface Screening
Know more about the home you're buying.
When buying a property, it's natural to wonder how it has been used in the past. At Mainland Home Inspections, we offer sensitive methamphetamine surface screening as an affordable addition to our pre-purchase and pre-sale building inspections throughout Christchurch and Canterbury.
Our screening checks selected areas for possible methamphetamine residue, giving you useful information before making one of life's biggest purchases. We carefully select appropriate testing locations within each room and provide clear results, helping you decide whether any further investigation is necessary.
10× Lower Screening Threshold Than NZ's Rental-Property Contamination Limit
Methamphetamine Screening — From $96$96 for the first room, plus $48 for each additional room tested.
Sensitive testing for extra peace of mind
Our surface screening is designed to detect possible methamphetamine residue at a threshold of just 1.5 micrograms per 100 cm².
That's one-tenth of New Zealand's current rental-property contamination threshold of 15 micrograms per 100 cm².
Our screening threshold
1.5
µg per 100 cm²
NZ rental-property limit
15
µg per 100 cm²
10× more sensitive than the rental-property contamination threshold
By screening at this lower level, we can identify possible low-level residue on selected surfaces that a less sensitive screening test may not indicate. This can help buyers decide whether further investigation would be worthwhile.
The 15 µg/100 cm² figure refers to New Zealand's rental-property regulations. The screening threshold is not itself a legal safety limit. A positive screening result does not automatically mean the property exceeds the legal contamination threshold or is unsafe.
A little extra confidence before you buy
Sensitive Screening
Our screening is designed to identify possible methamphetamine residue at a threshold ten times lower than New Zealand's rental-property contamination limit.
Carefully Selected Locations
We don't simply choose a random wall. We consider the room layout, airflow and places where airborne residue may accumulate, such as upper walls, corners and areas near heating or ventilation.
Convenient and Affordable
Screening takes place during your existing building inspection, with prices starting from just $96.
How the service works
- 1
Book your building inspection
Arrange your pre-purchase or pre-sale building inspection with Mainland Home Inspections.
- 2
Choose your rooms
Tell us which rooms or areas you would like screened. You can start with one room or select additional rooms for broader coverage.
- 3
We carry out the screening
We choose a suitable sampling location within each nominated room, taking into account the room layout, airflow and surfaces where residue may have accumulated. Each selected room receives one individual 100 cm² surface test. The screening is non-invasive and provides a preliminary result in minutes.
- 4
Receive your results
We record where each sample was taken and document the individual screening results. If a result indicates possible methamphetamine residue, we'll explain what it means and recommend further specialist investigation where appropriate.
Simple, affordable pricing
$96
First room or selected area
$48
Each additional room or area
One individual surface test is included for each room or area selected. You decide how many rooms you want screened.
Where should we test?
If you're looking for a simple initial check, the lounge or main living area is a reasonable place to start.
For buyers wanting broader screening, other areas to consider include:
- Main bedroom
- Other bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Laundry
- Garage
- Any room of particular concern
We select suitable sampling locations within each room, paying attention to areas where airborne residue may accumulate. These may include upper walls, areas near ceiling corners and locations affected by heating or ventilation. The exact location is selected according to the layout, condition and suitability of the room's surfaces.
Testing additional rooms provides broader coverage and more information about the property.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just test one room?
Absolutely. If you're looking for an initial check, the lounge or main living area is a reasonable place to start, as it's often one of the most frequently occupied rooms in the home. If you're particularly concerned about a bedroom, garage or another area, you can choose that room instead. You can also select additional rooms if you'd like broader screening.
Where do you take the test?
We carefully choose a suitable surface within each room. We consider the layout, airflow and locations where airborne residue may accumulate, including upper walls, ceiling corners and areas near heating or ventilation. We record the location of each test so you know exactly where the sample was taken.
How sensitive is your testing?
Our screening has a detection threshold of 1.5 micrograms per 100 cm². That's ten times lower than New Zealand's current rental-property contamination threshold of 15 micrograms per 100 cm². This allows our screening to indicate possible lower-level residue on the surfaces sampled.
What does a negative result mean?
A negative result is reassuring. It means the test did not indicate methamphetamine residue at our screening threshold on the surface sampled. We deliberately select suitable testing locations, rather than choosing surfaces at random, to make the screening as useful as possible. Although one test cannot confirm that every surface in a room is free from residue, a negative result provides useful information about the tested location.
What happens if methamphetamine is detected?
We'll explain which tested surface returned a positive result. A positive screening result does not automatically mean the house is unsafe or requires expensive cleaning. It indicates possible residue, and further specialist testing can help determine the actual level and extent of any contamination. You can then make a more informed decision about what to do next.
Can you guarantee the house is meth-free?
No surface screening service can guarantee that every part of a property is completely free from methamphetamine residue. What we can promise is careful testing, suitable sampling locations, sensitive screening and a clearly documented result for every location tested. A negative result provides reassurance about the sampled surface, but does not establish the condition of all other surfaces.
How many rooms should I have screened?
That's entirely your choice. Some buyers prefer an initial check in the lounge, while others want several rooms screened. Each additional room gives you another individual sampling result and broader coverage of the property.
Does testing damage the property?
No invasive work is required. We take a small surface sample using appropriate sampling materials. There is no need to cut open walls or remove building linings.
How quickly are results available?
The screening provides a preliminary result in minutes. We document the findings for inclusion with your inspection information.
Is this the same as laboratory testing?
No. This is preliminary surface screening designed to indicate possible methamphetamine residue. If further investigation is required, specialist sampling and laboratory analysis can be used to determine actual contamination levels.
Is meth screening included in a standard building inspection?
No. It's an optional service that can be added to a pre-purchase or pre-sale building inspection.
Can I also have Advanced Moisture Screening?
Yes. Advanced Moisture Screening and Methamphetamine Surface Screening are separate services. Both provide additional information about the property and can be requested alongside your building inspection.
How much does meth screening cost?
The first room costs $96, and every additional room costs $48. You decide how many areas you'd like screened.
Another check before you make your decision.
Buying a home is a significant investment. Our sensitive methamphetamine screening gives you additional information about the areas you choose to have tested. We select suitable sampling locations, document the individual results and explain whether further investigation may be worthwhile.
Methamphetamine Screening — From $96$96 for the first room, plus $48 for each additional room tested.
Add Methamphetamine (P) Surface Screening during online checkout and choose the rooms you want screened.
Methamphetamine surface screening provides preliminary results for selected sampling locations. Negative results indicate that residue was not detected at the test's screening threshold on the surfaces sampled, but do not guarantee that an entire room or property is free from methamphetamine. Positive results may require specialist testing to determine actual contamination levels.