How do I test for the presence of "Crack Cocaine" in my house/home. On
surfaces where I belive a lodger is using drugs.
I may also need to detect for Meth Amphetamines?

Dear shandyshore-ga; 

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. As a
forensic evidence technician I am extremely familiar with the methods
used to test for illicit drugs (and many other substances too of
course). My best advice is to call someone in law enforcement to come
out and do a test for you. Short of that, here is what I recommend:

To test a sample suspected of being methamphetamine or crack cocaine,
one needs a ?field tester? designed for that purpose. This simple
inexpensive kit is most often a vinyl envelope that contains one or
more vials in which a reagent is enclosed. The sample is placed into
the envelope and the glass vial is broken releasing the reagent, which
in turn reacts predictably to the presence of specific substances.

If a direct sample is unobtainable, one can obtain the latent presence
of controlled substances by swabbing a surface with a sterile wooden
Q-Tip. Place the cotton end of the swab into the test envelope and
break off the wooden stick just above the swab leaving only the cotton
head, the latent sample and a small portion of the stick inside.
Following the instructions as if you?ve placed a direct sample into
the tester. Using this method the drug is more difficult to detect
unless the latent sample if substantial, but this is not uncommon in
any case where trace evidence is concerned.



There are literally dozens of sources where one can obtain these kits.
One company, NIK, is well known for their reliable testers.

NIK SWABS
http://www.atdamerican.com/atd/Shop?DSP=30100&PCR=1:4:1073:10194&IID=1714

FROOGLE: NIK TEST KIT
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&q=NIK%20test%20kit%20&btnG=Google+Search&sa=N&tab=wf

GOOGLE: NIK TEST KIT
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=NIK+test+kit+&btnG=Google+Search

FROOGLE: NIK TEST COCAINE
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=NIK+test+COCAINE&hl=en&btnG=Search

FROOGLE: NIK TEST METHAMPHETAMINE
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=NIK+test+methamphetamine&hl=en&btnG=Search

I also want to bring a product to your attention. Although I am not
familiar with, someone is certain to bring it up so I will beat them
to it. Who knows, it may be promising:

A company called DETECT NOW markets an aerosol  spray that it claims
will give instant results if sprayed on a surface that has been
exposed to certain illegal drugs (including cocaine and
methamphetamine). I do not personally know of any state crime lab that
uses this product, but that doesn?t necessarily mean it doesn?t work.
The truth is I simply know nothing about it and can?t pass judgment on
it one way or the other. Here it is though - Caveat emptor:

GOOGLE: DETECT NOW SPRAY
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=%22DETECT+NOW%22+SPRAY+methamphetamine

I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;

Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher


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Drug

Test

Tester

Detection

Kit

NIK

Reagent

Great answer. Giving very good general information and spefic details
of  products to assist with my problem.