Preliminary Survey Guide – Tarkov Labs Flash Drive Fast
The Escape from Tarkov Preliminary Survey quest dropped with the September 2026 Labs event, and it exists purely to send you into the most lethal map in the game for a USB stick. Given by Ref, the objective is simple on paper: locate and extract with the testing area blueprint flash drive hidden inside The Lab. Reality is less kind, since Labs does not care about your plans, your loadout, or your feelings.
This is the opening chapter of a longer Preliminary Survey quest guide chain, and Ref, true to form, tells you nothing about what comes next. You need Labs access unlocked before you even queue up, so if you have not earned a keycard yet, this quest is not for you.
Requirements
| Trader | Ref |
|---|---|
| Map | The Lab |
| Access | Labs keycard required |
| Objective | Find and extract with the flash drive |
Where to Find the Flash Drive
The Tarkov Labs flash drive location is fixed: the item sits in the testing area, on a table directly opposite the orange dome. Get to the testing area, grab the drive off the table, and resist the urge to explore further, because curiosity in Labs is how corpses are made.
Walkthrough
- Spawn in and head straight for the testing area near the orange dome without detouring for loot you do not need.
- Locate the table across from the dome and pick up the testing area blueprint flash drive.
- If you are running a backpack, skip the ventilation shaft, since it rejects anything bulkier than your ego.
- Take the stairwell route instead and flip the wall switch to restore power to the elevator.
- Wait for the elevator, board it, and ride to extraction without wandering off to fight strangers.
Insurance does not function on Labs. Nobody is coming to fetch your kit if you die, so bring only what you can afford to lose forever.
Rewards
| Experience | Approximately 14,000 XP |
|---|---|
| Currency | 200 GP coins |
| Skill | +1 Search skill level |
Extra Notes
This whole errand is standard fare for a Ref quest Tarkov line, where the trader promises a grand plan and delivers nothing but vague hints and a shrug.
A proper Tarkov Labs walkthrough only works if you already know the map by memory, since one wrong hallway here usually ends with someone else looting your body.
The Preliminary Survey rewards are modest, a bit of XP and pocket change, so treat this as a stepping stone rather than a payday.
As part of the Tarkov Labs event 2026 rollout, expect Ref to keep dangling follow-up tasks once this one is turned in.
Anyone chasing every Escape from Tarkov Labs quest in this chain should get comfortable with restoring power switches, since Labs loves gating progress behind them.
Keep in mind the Tarkov flash drive spawn is consistent per patch notes, but Battlestate Games has a habit of shuffling item locations without warning in later updates.
Where is the flash drive for Preliminary Survey located?
On a table inside the testing area, positioned directly opposite the orange dome in The Lab.
Do I need a backpack to complete Preliminary Survey?
No, a backpack blocks the vent shortcut, so use the stairwell and power switch route instead.
What rewards does Preliminary Survey give?
Roughly 14,000 experience, 200 GP coins, and one Search skill level increase upon turn-in.
Should I insure my gear before running this quest?
No, insurance does not apply on Labs, so anything lost there is gone permanently.
Is Preliminary Survey part of a longer quest chain?
Yes, it opens Ref’s new Labs event line, with more secretive follow-up tasks expected soon.