Reagent testing kits

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. We do not encourage you to break the law and cannot claim any responsibility for your actions.

Gratis and anonymous drug checking services are offered in a growing number of countries including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United States and the UK. See the reference for the analysis technologies use by respective country. However, regardless of the analysis technology used, it's important to remember that even with multiple tests performed in parallel to account for uncertainty in measurements, there always remains a chance of a result being incorrect.

Search for "reagent testing kits" in the Network page if your government does not offer gratis reagent testing services.

Reagent testing kits is a drug testing method that uses chemical solutions that change in color when applied to a chemical compound. They can help determine what chemical might be present in a given sample. In many cases they do not rule out the possibility of another similar compound being present in addition to or instead of the one suspected.

Although very few substances are effective at dosages that allow the use of paper blotters, LSD is not the only one: It's essential to test for its presence to avoid substances of the NBOMe class. Additionally, it's becoming increasingly important to test for possible Fentanyl contamination, since this substance is effective at dosages that make it possible to put very high quantities on a single blotter.

NOTE: Reagents can only determine the presence, not the quantity or purity, of a particular substance. Dark color reactions will tend to override reactions to other substances also in the pill. A positive or negative reaction for a substance does not indicate that a drug is safe. No drug use is 100% safe. Make wise decisions and take responsibility for your health and well-being; no one else can.

Materials

• Drug checking reagents
• Ceramic spot plate, or other ceramic surface like a coffee mug
• Scraper for pills, or scissors/knife for paper blotters
• Micro lab spatula/scoop
• Latex gloves for protection
• Caustic soda to neutralize accidental spills
• Image/video recording device for easy review afterwards.

How to use reagents

IMPORTANT: Never have more than one reagent bottle open at a time. If you mix up the caps and put the wrong cap on the wrong reagent bottle, this may cross-contaminate the reagents and ruin them. Be sure to perform the tests in a well-lit location. Be careful when using the reagents, as they contain chemicals that can damage skin (we recommend wearing latex gloves). Keep the solutions far from your eyes and mouth. Also, make sure to clean up completely after each test.

1. Scrape a tiny bit of your pill or powder (or cut a tiny piece, if handling a blotter) onto a large, white ceramic plate. Use just enough powder to see on the plate.
2. Take the reagent bottle out of the plastic safety container. Remove the cap and turn the bottle upside-down a couple inches over the powder.
3. Squeeze one drop out of the bottle onto the powder. Be careful to not let the dropper bottle touch your powder or you will contaminate and ruin the rest of the reagent. Replace the cap.
4. Observe the color change right away. Optionally you can film the reaction with your phone or a camera for future reference. Use the corresponding columns of the color chart included with your kit to evaluate your test.
5. If the reagent either does not change any color during the first 30 seconds or if it produces some other color-change sequence, then the pill definitely does not contain any of the above substances. It may also be highly adulterated with one or more unknown substances. You can use other reagents on new samples to look for the presence of other substances. Wash the testing surfaces with soap and water as soon as possible.

Drug checking at music festivals

Pill testing/drug checking at music festivals has been done at a growing number of events like: Boom Festival (since 2003), Parklife (2014), Groovin the Moo (2018), etc. Many use reagent tests as part of their services. To help others start drug checking services ANKORS has launched the Drug Checking at Music Festivals: A How To‐Guide.

Known reagents

Known substance testing reagents.

Reagent test	Detection of chemical class(es)	Detection examples	Other
Chen-Kao	Phenylalkylamines	Pseudoephedrine, ephedrine
Dille–Koppanyi	Barbiturates
p-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) + acidic solution	Indoles
Duquenois–Levine			Cannabis
Ehrlich	Indoles	Tryptophan, tryptamines (e.g. DMT, psilocybin mushrooms), ergoloids (e.g. LSD)	Tryptophan occurs in natural opium
Hofmann reagent	Indoles	Indolamines (LSD, DMT, 4-Aco-DMT, etc.) and for some phenethylamines (2-CTX, 2CE, DOM, etc.).	Used for distinguishing LSD analogues from each other, and for distinguishing DMT analogues from each other.
Folin A & B	Amines, amino acids, piperazines
Froehde	Alkaloids, especially opioids		Research chemicals
Gallic acid			Drug precursor chemicals (MDP2P, safrole). Distinction of MDMA, MDA and MDEA from amphetamine or methamphetamine.
Gold(III) bromide	Compounds with phenol and hydroxyl groups	Acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, heroin, lactose, mannitol, morphine, and sucrose	Ketamine
Liebermann			Cocaine, morphine, PMA, and PMMA, MDMA, certain substances from the 2C and other research chemicals etc. Used as a secondary test that tells the difference between methamphetamine and amphetamine, between MDMA and MDA or between methylone and MDPV.
Mandelin reagent			Ketamine, and PMA. Amphetamines, methadone, cocaine, opium, research chemicals.
Marquis	Alkaloids		Amphetamine-type compounds (Speed etc) including Methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly), MDA, MDE, Opiates (Morphine, Codeine or Heroin), LSD, a general screening agent for other drugs e.g. Research Chemicals etc.
Mayer	Alkaloids
Mecke	Alkaloids		Heroin and other opiates (opium etc), LSD, Research Chemicals etc.
Robadope	Primary amines
Scott reagent (Cobalt(II) thiocyanate)			Cocaine, lidocaine. Diphenhydramine
Simon A & B	Alkaloids, secondary amines
Zimmermann	Alkaloids, benzodiazepines
Zwikker	Barbiturates

Storage

Reagents are primarily sulfuric acid with other potentially dangerous chemicals, and are strong enough to burn skin and clothing. Keep out of eyes and mouth. Wear latex gloves when handling the bottle and cap. If you get some on you, then wash quickly with soap and water. Wash testing surfaces with soap and water as well. Dispose of any unwanted reagent down the sink with running water and baking soda. Store all testing kits in a cold, dark place such as a refrigerator between uses.

• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or heat to extend the shelf life
• Store upright to avoid leaks
• Keep in a safe place away from children
• Read information about expiry date, since many reagents tend to lose efficacy over time
• It's possible to store reagents in the fridge or freezer for a longer shelf life. Note that before use the reagent needs to be at room temperature. Do not open the reagent before it has reached room temperature or humidity from the air will condense water into the reagent. Liebermann reagent cannot be stored in the freezer only in the fridge.

Test kit expiration test

Common household items can be used to test if a reagent has expired. The following table shows known test results.

Substance	Marquis	Mecke	Mandelin	Folin	Ehrlich
before testing	colorless	colorless	traffic yellow	colorless	clear > light yellow
Aspirin	pink > deep red (slow)	no color change	Dark grey-green	no color change	unknown
Caffeine	no color change	no color change	brown	unknown	unknown
Codeine	dark purple	dark bluish green	faint orange	unknown	unknown
Ibuprofen	no color change	light brown	dark brown	unknown	unknown
Paracetamol	no color change	no color change	moderate olive	unknown	unknown
Salt (Sodium Chloride)	fizzes clear	fizzes clear	strong orange	unknown	unknown
Sugar	(slow) dark brown	briliant greenish yellow	slow brown	no color change	unknown
Vitamine C	very light yellow	(slow) orange	pale blue	no color change	unknown
Melatonin	unknown	unknown	unknown	unknown	Pink > Purple

Substance	Froehde	Liebermann	Robadope	Simon's
Before testing	colorless	colorless	colorless	yellow ≥ red
Aspirin	blue > purple	brown	unknown	no color change
Caffeine	no color change	no color change	unknown	no color change
Codeine	green ≥ red ≥ brown	faint brown	no color change	no color change
Ibuprofen	no color change	Dark reddish brown	unknown	no color change
Paracetamol	pale blue	brownish purple	unknown	no color change
Salt (Sodium Chloride)	fizzes strongly	fizzes strongly	unknown	no color change
Sugar	briliant yellow	very light purple	unknown	no color change
Vitamine C	pale yellow	brown ≥ purple-black	unknown	unknown

Ehrlich can be tested with melatonin which turns pink when not expired.

Color chart

Substance	Mandelin	Marquis	Mecke	Simon's	Froehde	Liebermann
2C-B	Green	Yellow to green	Yellow	No reaction	Yellow	Very dark green
2C-I	No reaction	Yellow to green	Dark brown	No reaction	Unknown	Unknown
2C-T-7	Maroon to Black	Apricot	Red to purple	No reaction	violet and orange streaks	Unknown
3-Meo-PCP	Green	No color change	Yellow		No color change	Reddish brown
4-FA		No color change	No color change		Faint purple-blue
4-MEC	Unknown	No colour change	Light green	Unknown	Unknown
Acetaminophen	Moderate olive	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	No colour change
Amphetamine	Greenish Brown	Red-Yellow > Brown	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction or Red	Orange
Benzocaine	Light orange-brown	No color change	Unknown			No colour change
Benzphetamine	Brilliant yellow green	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Caffeine	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction
Chlorpromazine	Dark olive	Deep purplish red	Blackish red	Unknown	Very deep red
Cocaine	Very slight darkening	No color change	Unknown	Unknown	No colour change	Yellowish or Orange
Codeine	Dark olive	Very dark purple	Very dark bluish green	Unknown	Dark Green > Red/Brown
Diacetylmorphine (Heroin)	Dark brown	Deep purplish red	Deep bluish green	Unknown	Purple/red > to green	Black
Dimethoxy-meth	Dark olive brown	Moderate olive	Dark brown	Unknown	Unknown
Doxepin	Very reddish brown	Blackish red	Very dark red	Unknown	Deep reddish brown
Dristan	Greyish olive	Dark grayish red	Light olive brown	Unknown	Light bluish green
DXM	Goes clear w/ green edges	Grey with smoke	Yellow	No reaction	No reaction
Ephedrine	Brief darkening	No color change	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Deep Orange
Ethylone	Brown	Bright yellow				Greenish Brown
Ketamine	None or Orange	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	No colour change	Very light yellow
LSD	None	None	Greenish black	Unknown	Unknown	None
Mace	Moderate olive green	Moderate yellow	Dark greyish olive	No reaction	Light olive yellow
MDA	Purple/Blue > Black	Dark purple to black	Very dark blue	No reaction	Greenish black	Green > Dark Violet
MDAI		Orange	Green		Green > Black
MDEA	Dark purple	Dark purple	Dark purple	Blue	Unknown
MDMA	Puple/Blue > Black	Dark purple to black	Dark purple	Blue	Black w/ hints of greenish brown	Intense Brown > Black
Mescaline	Dark yellowish brown	Strong orange	Moderate olive	Unknown	Green > to Blue or Yellow	Black
Mephedrone	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	Bright yellow
Methamphetamine	Green > Blue	Orange/brown	No reaction	Blue	No colour change	Red or Orange
Methadone	Dark greyish blue	Light yellowish pink	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Methaqualone	Very orange yellow	No reaction	No reaction	No reaction	Unknown
Methoxetamine	No reaction	Pink (slow)	Yellow > green > red	slow pink > red	Yellow to green
Methylone	Yellow	Brown	Orange/brown	Blue	Deep green
Methylphenidate	Brilliant orange yellow	Moderate orange yellow	Unknown	Pale violet	No reaction
MXE		Pink (slow)	Yellow > Green > Red		Yellow - green
Modafinil	Brownish Red	Yellow/Orange > Brown				Darkening Orange
PMA	Green to brown	No reaction	Olive Green	No reaction	Pale green > to brown

Ehrlich Reagent forms a bright yellow color and indicates the possible presence of procaine or benzocaine.

See also

• See the Network page for reagent testing kits, and purity testing kits.
• See this page to enter your results and find out what your substance is. It is also possible to see what results a substance should give.
• Responsible use
• Tutorial index

External links

• List of reagent testing color charts (Wikipedia)
• Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse (Erowid)
• Ecstasy Testing Kit FAQ (Erowid)
• Colorimetric reagent results (DMT-Nexus Wiki)
• How to Reagent Test guide (Reddit)
• Test results for all drugs & substances (Reddit)
• Test results sorted by color (Reddit)
• Interactive testing results

References

Responsible drug use index