Fast meth testing for prospective home buyers
Testing homes for methamphetamine is now a routine part of property sales, with lawyers increasingly asking for test results alongside building reports and other documentation.
Meth Testing Christchurch provides same-day preliminary testing for properties for as little as $250.
Nicola Clark, who runs the Canterbury branch of the nationwide franchise - known nationally as Residue Testing NZ - says there is little to indicate that a property may have harmful levels of the chemicals found in methamphetamine, or P.
"Testing a house is a way to make sure you’re going to be living in a safe house," she says. "It gives some peace of mind, even if the results do come back negative."
As an independent firm, Meth Testing Christchurch has no stake in the cleanup work that may be required following a positive result, thereby assuring customers of a straightforward and clearly interpreted result.
"We write out a full report on what the levels are and then give the client an idea of what it means.
"We don’t want to scare people. A lot of the time it’s not going to be a big clean up. Often we might just find it in one or two rooms in a house," Nicola says.
Tests involve swabbing areas of 100 square centimetres in various parts of a house and comparing the results against Ministry of Health guidelines. Findings above 0.5 micrograms of methamphetamine in any one area indicate a potentially harmful level of contamination.
Results can be available in a few hours, with more detailed information from a laboratory taking about a week, if preliminary findings suggest a need for further analysis.
Because contamination can last for many years in a home, landlords are advised to have methamphetamine checks conducted between each tenancy.
"A lot of lawyers are starting to request people get prepurchase checks done. It’s just like a builder’s report," Nicola says.
To avoid neighbours any unnecessary alarm, testing staff drive unbranded cars and do not wear uniforms.
To arrange for a methamphetamine test or to find out more about more about Meth Testing Christchurch, phone 0800 00 3636 or visit methtest.co.nz.