Chemically Contaminated Properties Salt Lake County Health Department Regulation #32, Chemically Contaminated Properties, requires that properties that have been closed to entry or occupancy due to methamphetamine production must be assessed prior to being re-opened.  A residue level of 100 nano-grams(0.1 micrograms) per 100 sq. cm. or less is required. Ion Mobility Spectrometry is capable to measure to these levels. Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is also capable of measuring to these levels with the benefit of actual quantitative results for various unknown compounds.

In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and neighboring states (see Fact sheets Link in News and Events) there has been an average of 100-250 meth labs discovered annually in each state with nearly 2,000 labs discovered in California in 2001.  The number of actual meth lab contamination problems are unknown, new methamphetamine manufacturing efforts develop daily,   To protect loved ones and yourself from methamphetamine contamination, residue detection analysis should be considered before renting or purchasing a property.

Structural Drug Detection for Hazardous Residue Various methods are offered for determining possible Hazardous Drug residue contamination.
>>>>>	(Recommended for initial testing & identification) Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) identifies a substance by its molecular size and structure, while moving through an electric field.  IMS is capable of detecting substances down to nano-grams (billionths of a gram).  At this low level it is likely that IMS would detect the presence of drug residue created in an area by smoking illicit narcotics and even may show positive results as a result of casual contact with a drug user. IMS detects samples based on the rates of movement of their ionized vapors through an   oppositely flowing drift gas (see Figure). (Today's Chemist, March 2002) IMS is used at many airports for explosive and narcotics detection, Customs & Borders, Law Enforcement, Prison and Military Security uses.  Samples collected by Field Chemist for IMS testing are sent to a lab where technicians trained and certified in the use of IMS by its manufacturer are analyzed.  Results from the IMS analysis are returned and report of findings provided.    You are left in complete control to decide whether to accept or act on the results.  You do not have to occupy, rent, purchase or be responsible for a contamination problem created by someone else.
	Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)  The most precise method for residue detection and analysis is a combination of GC and MS. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is a two-step process, where GC separates the sample into its constituent parts, while MS provides the exact molecular identification of the compounds.  Compounds are separated by GC and are then introduced, one at a time, into a mass spectrometer.  As the sample constituents enter the MS, they are bombarded by electrons, which cause the compound to break up into molecular fragments. The fragmentation pattern is reproducible and characteristic, and is considered the "molecular-fingerprint" of a specific compound. This procedure is the most costly, averaging approximately $100 per sample to test.