Looking for a DIY asbestos test kit?
If you’ve heard of “asbestos testing kits” being sold at hardware stores, you may have got the impression that asbestos testing is something you can do yourself.
This is not the case. The only way to test for asbestos is in a scientific laboratory, using specialised techniques like Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM) and Dispersion Staining (DS).
Get a sample tested for asbestos in a NATA accredited laboratory »
So-called “asbestos test kits” just contain some basic equipment for collecting an asbestos sample, and a certificate to have that sample tested in a laboratory. They’re nothing magical, and they don’t let you test for asbestos yourself. We’ve covered how these kits work in more detail in our article Do DIY asbestos test kits actually work?
Fortunately, you don’t need a specialised asbestos testing kit. You need a safely collected sample and a proper laboratory. SafeWork NSW recommends using a professional, such as an occupational hygienist or licensed asbestos assessor, to collect samples of suspected asbestos. If the material is damaged or crumbling, or you’re not sure it’s safe to sample, don’t disturb it: get a professional to take the sample. If you already have a safely collected, properly packaged sample, you can deliver it to the NATA accredited asbestos testing laboratory at Airsafe. See the step-by-step instructions on our Asbestos Sample Testing page before you start.
If you need a quick answer, same day results are available for a small surcharge: call us on 1300 888 338 before you send your sample. If you’re really in a hurry and you’re in the Sydney metropolitan area, we can even send someone around to pick up a sample to take back to our NATA Accredited Laboratory.
And remember, Airsafe is not just a testing laboratory. If your sample is found to be asbestos, we can advise on treatment options, help you engage a reputable, licensed asbestos removal contractor, and issue a clearance certificate once the removal area has been inspected. If you have an asbestos problem, Airsafe is here to help you until it’s fixed.
Of course, whether or not you use our ongoing services is up to you – we don’t use asbestos testing as bait for our other services.
Frequently asked questions
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No. The sample still has to be analysed in a laboratory. There’s no instant home test for asbestos: a kit is just a way of collecting a sample and getting it to a laboratory.
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You can’t do the actual asbestos identification yourself: that takes a laboratory. SafeWork NSW recommends using a professional, such as an occupational hygienist or licensed asbestos assessor, to collect samples of suspected asbestos. A safely collected, properly packaged sample can be submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis.
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Not for the laboratory test itself. The result comes from the laboratory analysis, not from the branded kit. Safe sample collection and packaging still matter: see the step-by-step instructions on our Asbestos Sample Testing page.
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$110 per sample including GST. It’s a single flat fee that covers a full analysis in our NATA accredited laboratory with a written report of the result.
Last updated: August 2026
