Methamphetamine & Fentanyl Testing in San Diego

If you suspect a property has been used for methamphetamine or fentanyl consumption or production, professional testing is essential before occupancy. Drug residue contamination is invisible to the naked eye but can pose serious health risks to occupants, particularly children, elderly residents, and individuals with compromised immune systems. XRF Research provides methamphetamine and fentanyl surface testing for residential and commercial properties throughout San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and all of California.

Why Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Testing Matters

Methamphetamine residue from smoking or manufacturing can persist on walls, ceilings, carpets, HVAC systems, and other surfaces long after drug activity has ceased. Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, can pose health risks at very low surface concentrations. Even short-term exposure to drug residue can cause headaches, respiratory irritation, skin reactions, and other health effects — and prolonged exposure in a contaminated living environment raises additional concerns, particularly for young children who frequently touch surfaces and put their hands in their mouths.

When is Drug Residue Testing Needed?

• Property transactions involving homes or apartments with suspected or known drug history
• Landlord/property manager turnover assessments between tenants
• Properties occupied by squatters
• Insurance claims related to drug contamination
• Post-remediation clearance testing to verify successful cleanup
• Court-ordered testing in custody, eviction, or criminal cases
• Peace of mind for new property owners or tenants

Our Testing Process

1. Visual Assessment: Inspection for indicators of drug use or manufacturing, including discoloration, chemical staining, burn marks, unusual odors, and residue patterns.
2. Surface Wipe Sampling: Wipe samples from representative surfaces per NIOSH and ASTM guidelines — walls, countertops, bathroom surfaces, HVAC registers, and windowsills.
3. Field Screening: Immunoassay-based field screening kits provide rapid, on-site presumptive results detecting methamphetamine at levels well below California’s guidance value.
4. Laboratory Confirmation: Wipe samples submitted for quantitative analysis by GC/MS (gas chromatography / mass spectrometry) at an accredited laboratory.
5. Reporting: Detailed professional report documenting all sample locations, results, and comparison to applicable health-based guidance values with remediation recommendations if needed.

California Guidance Values

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has published guidance recommending a cleanup level of 1.5 µg/100 cm² for methamphetamine on interior surfaces. For fentanyl, emerging guidance from other jurisdictions suggests surface cleanup levels in the range of 50-100 ng/100 cm².

Service Area: San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and throughout California.

Call (858) 442-3230 or email [email protected] for a consultation and quote.