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Reagent testing

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Reagent testing is one of the processes used to identify substances contained within a pill, usually illicit substances. With the increased prevalence of drugs being available in their pure forms, the terms "drug checking" or "pill testing"[1] may also be used, although these terms usually refer to testing with a wider variety of techniques covered by drug checking.

This short GIF provides clear and easy to follow instructions on how to use a drug checking kit

Reagent color chart

Testing kits are distributed on a not-for-profit basis by DanceSafe and commercially.[2]

Substance Custom reagent A Folin's B Froehde Liebermann Mandelin Marquis Mecke A Morris B A Simon's B

Forms

Alkaloids Froehde
Liebermann
Mandelin
Marquis
Mayer's
Mecke
Simon's 		Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Amines, and amino acids Folin's Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Amines: Primary amines Robadope Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Amines: Secondary amines Simon's Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Hydrochlorides Silver nitrate Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Indoles Ehrlich Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Sulfates Barium chloride Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Psychoactive substances

Chemical families

Barbiturates Dille–Koppanyi,
Zwikker 		Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Benzodiazepines Zimmermann Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Opiates Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown White > green > turquoise Unknown Unknown
Phytocannabinoids Proprietary Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Synthetic cannabinoids Proprietary Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Synthetic opioids (gray death) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Individual psychoactive substances

2C-B[3] Unknown Yellow[1] Unknown No reaction Yellow to green [4][1] Yellow/brown Unknown No reaction
2C-E Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
2C-I[3] Unknown Unknown Unknown No reaction Yellow to green Dark brown Unknown No reaction
2C-T-2 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
2C-T-7 Unknown Violet and orange streaks [4] Unknown Maroon to Black Apricot Red to purple Unknown No reaction
4-MEC Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown No reaction[4] Light green Unknown Unknown
Alcohol Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Amphetamine HCl Unknown Red Unknown Moderate bluish green [5] Strong reddish orange/Dark reddish brown [5] No reaction Unknown No reaction
Benzphetamine Unknown Unknown Unknown Brilliant yellow green Deep reddish brown [5] Unknown Unknown Unknown
Caffeine Unknown No reaction Unknown No reaction No reaction No reaction Unknown No reaction
CBD Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Chloral hydrate Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Chlorpromazine Unknown Very deep red[6] [5] Unknown Dark olive Deep purplish red [5] Blackish red [5] Unknown Unknown
Cocaine Scott Unknown No reaction[1] Unknown Deep orange yellow[5] No reaction Unknown Unknown Unknown
Codeine Unknown Dark Green[6][7] > Red/Brown[8][5] Unknown Dark olive [5] Deep purplish red [5] Very dark bluish green [5] Unknown Unknown
Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) Unknown Purple/red > to green[1] Unknown Moderate reddish brown Deep purplish red [5] Deep bluish green [5] Unknown Unknown
Dimethoxy-meth Unknown Unknown Unknown Dark olive brown Moderate olive Dark brown Unknown Unknown
DMT Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
DOM Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Doxepin Unknown Deep reddish brown[6] Unknown Very reddish brown Blackish red [5] Very dark red Unknown Unknown
Dristan Unknown Light bluish green[6][5] Unknown Greyish olive Dark grayish red [5] Light olive brown [5] Unknown Unknown
DXM Unknown No reaction Unknown White w/ green edges[9] Grey with smoke Yellow Unknown No reaction
Fentanyl Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
GHB Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Ketamine Unknown No reaction[1] Unknown Orange/brown No reaction No reaction Unknown No reaction
LSD Unknown Moderate yellow green [5] Unknown Unknown Olive black [5] Greenish black [5] Unknown Unknown
Mace Unknown Light olive yellow[6] [5] Unknown Moderate olive green [5] Moderate yellow [5] Dark grayish olive [5] Unknown No reaction
MDA Unknown Greenish black[1][6][5] Unknown Bluish black[10] [5] Dark purple to black[1][6] Very dark blue Unknown No reaction
MDEA Unknown Unknown Unknown Dark purple Dark purple Dark purple Unknown Blue
MDMA Unknown Black w/ hints of greenish brown[1] Unknown Bluish black[10] Dark purple to black[1] Dark purple Unknown Blue
Mescaline Unknown Green > to Blue[8] or Yellow[11] Unknown Dark yellowish brown [5] Strong orange [8][5] Moderate olive [5] Unknown Unknown
Mephedrone Unknown No reaction Unknown No reaction No reaction No reaction Unknown No reaction
Methamphetamine Unknown No reaction[4] Unknown Dark yellowish green [5] Deep reddish orange/Dark reddish brown [5] No reaction Unknown Blue
Methadone Unknown Unknown Unknown Dark greyish blue Light yellowish pink [5] Unknown Unknown Unknown
Methaqualone Unknown Unknown Unknown Very orange yellow [5] No reaction No reaction Unknown No reaction
Methoxetamine Unknown Yellow to green Unknown No reaction Pink (slow) Yellow > green > red Unknown Slow pink > red
Methylone[3] Unknown Deep green[12] Unknown Yellow Brown Orange/brown Unknown Blue
Methylphenidate Unknown No reaction[6] Unknown Brilliant orange yellow Moderate orange yellow [5] Unknown Unknown Pale violet
MXE Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
PCP Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
PMA Unknown Pale green > to brown[1] Unknown Green to brown No reaction No reaction Unknown No reaction
Psilocybin Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
THC Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Tramadol Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Adulterant

Acetaminophen Unknown No reaction[1] Unknown Moderate olive[5] Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Asbestos (talc) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Aspirin ? Grayish purple [5] ? Grayish olive green[5] Deep red [5] ? ? ?
Benzocaine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Boric acid ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Brodifacoum (pesticide) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Creatine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Diltiazem ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Dimethylterephthalate ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Chloroquine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Formaldehyde ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Hydroxyzine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Isopropylbenzylamine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Levamisole ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Lidocaine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mannitol ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Methylsulfonylmethane ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Nttmeg Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Brownish Black [5] Unknown Unknown
Phenacetin ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Procaine ? ? ? Deep orange [5] ? ? ? ?
Reducing sugars (sugar) Benedict's,
Fehling's 		No reaction White > light brown White w/ light purple edges White > brown White > light yellow > black White > light yellow > black ? No reaction
Sodium bicarbonate ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Strychnine ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Tocopheryl acetate ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Quinine ? ? ? Deep greenish yellow [5] ? ? ? ?

It is advised to check the references for photos of reaction results.[3]

Reagent testers might show the colour of the desired substance while not showing a different colour for a more dangerous additive.[13] For this reason it is essential to use multiple different tests to show all adulterants.

Reagent testing notes

A test is done by taking a small scraping from a pill and placing it in the reagent testing liquid or dropping the reagent onto the scraping.[14] The liquid will change colour when reacting with different chemicals to indicate the presence of certain substances.

Testing with a reagent kit does not indicate the pill is safe. While the testing process does show some particular substances are present, it may not show a harmful substance that is also present and unaccounted for by the testing process. Some substances that cause strong colour changes can also mask the presence of other substances that cause weaker colour changes. Thin layer chromatography is used with reagent testing to separate substances before testing and prevent this "masking" effect.[15]

Ehrlich reagent can only detect drugs with an indole moiety, but this is useful because drugs from the NBOMe class do not have an indole and are often sold as LSD which does. The Ehrlich reagent has an additional benefit over other reagents in that it does not react with the paper on which LSD is often distributed.

Reagent tests are often limited to target specific chemicals, and when these substances are mis-sold it is usually by substitution of a different substance in the same chemical family, rendering the test unuseful for consumers. However, reagent tests for chemicals families also exist.

Tests that can be used to determine salts forms of psychoactive substances, which may indicate the form potency, solubility, and stability, of the psychoactive substance itself.

Lacing agents are often used to cut the weight of substances. Some of the most available and non-suspicious cutting agents are reducing sugars: The common dietary monosaccharides galactose, glucose and fructose are all reducing sugars. Sugar is the generic name for sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose.

Availability

As reagent testing has become more popular, vendors have begun to offer a greater range of tests. This increases the likelihood that a substance might have a unique profile of results and makes the tests more useful.

Other reagents are discussed in scientific literature but limited applications mean they may not be sold for consumer testing. The National Institute of Justice provides information about "Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" in NIJ Standard–0604.01.[6]

Reliability

White on White blotters (WoW) blotting paper does not release ink that may discolor reagent testing results.

If more than one bottle are open at the same time and the cap are put on the wrong reagent bottle, this may cross-contaminate the reagents and ruin them.

Reagent tests may be discolored by ink from blotter or coloration agents in color coded tablets.

According to a 2003 research published in Pharmacotherapy, neither the Marquis, Mecke, nor Simon's reagents should be used by the public for harm reduction purposes. These agents do not help identify pure MDMA tablets. The research team suggests using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as the most sensitive and specific testing method for identifying MDMA and its contaminants[16] but this is out of reach for users in most countries and reagent tests remain popular, often distributed by harm-reduction organisations due to their low cost and high utility when multiple test reagents are used.[17][18][19]

Legality

USA

Illinois

Home pill testing equipment is illegal in the US state of Illinois where the (720 ILCS 600/) Drug Paraphernalia Control Act specifically outlaws "testing equipment intended to be used unlawfully in a private home for identifying or in analyzing the strength, effectiveness or purity of cannabis or controlled substances;"[20]

Acid–base reaction

Bases (e.g. sodium bicarbonateis) or acids (e.g. citric acid) are sometimes used as cutting agents. An individual base solution and acid solution can help determine if the substance contains an acid or base respectively, if an acid–base reaction will occur.

Alternative consumer solutions

Common cutting agents:

Media

  • 2014 documentary What's In My Baggie? deals with adulterants and additives in recreational drugs.[21]
  • Largest public accessible database with reagent test results and their sources [22]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Reagent Testing Instructions". Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  2. ^ https://dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d TheAzo. "Marquis/Mecke/Mandellin results for stim/empathogen/2C-X, RC's & more". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2013-03-22. Alt URL
  4. ^ a b c d "Reagent Base Reaction database". Retrieved 21 Dec 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao O'Neal, C. L.; Crouch, D. J.; Fatah, A. A. (1 January 2013). "Validation of Twelve Chemical Spot Tests for the Detection of Drugs of Abuse*". Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences (Second Edition): 380. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-382165-2.00321-4. Retrieved 11 January 2022. {{cite journal}}: Check |doi= value (help); External link in |doi= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" (PDF). Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program. July 2000. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  7. ^ Kelly, Tamsin (2011). Clarke's Analysis of Drugs and Poisons. Vol. 44. pp. 213–214. doi:10.1080/00450618.2011.620006. ISBN 978-0-85369-711-4. S2CID 71790993. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b c "Controlled Substances Procedures Manual" (PDF). Virginia Department of Forensic Science. 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  9. ^ "Mandelin test results for DXM, ibuprofen, sugar and modafinil". 2016-02-14. Retrieved 21 Dec 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Dancesafe Mandelin Reagent". Dancesafe. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. ^ Bunk Police. "Mescaline - Froehde Reagent - Normal Test Kit - Bunk Police". Archived from the original on 2020-05-17.
  12. ^ "Methylone - Froehde Reagent - Normal Test Kit - Bunk Police". Youtube. 18 Nov 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 21 Dec 2016.
  13. ^ Home pill testing doesn't show up PMA in a pill in YouTube.
  14. ^ "Adulterant Screening Kit Instructions". DanceSafe. Archived from the original on 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  15. ^ Barratt, Monica (2018-06-01). Global review of drug checking services operating in 2017 (PDF) (Report). p. 4. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  16. ^ Murray, Rebecca A.; Doering, Paul L.; Boothby, Lisa A.; Merves, Michele L.; McCusker, Rachel R.; Chronister, Chris W.; Goldberger, Bruce A. (2003-10-01). "Putting an Ecstasy Test Kit to the Test: Harm Reduction or Harm Induction?". Pharmacotherapy. 23 (10): 1238–1244. doi:10.1592/phco.23.12.1238.32704. ISSN 1875-9114. PMID 14594341. S2CID 25266063.
  17. ^ Duff, Eamonn (20 Nov 2016). "Thousands of free pill-testing kits to flood Sydney's summer music festivals". Sydney Morning Herald.
  18. ^ Ainsworth, Paul (7 Dec 2016). "Free drug testing kits being planned for students at north's universities". The Irish News. Retrieved 21 Dec 2016.
  19. ^ Ali, Aftab (9 May 2016). "Newcastle University students offered £3 drug-testing kit". The Independent.
  20. ^ "(720 ILCS 600/) Drug Paraphernalia Control Act". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  21. ^ What's In My Baggie? in YouTube.
  22. ^ Reagent Test Results
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