Pill testing

Pill testing is a process 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 "reagent testing" may also be used, with the reagents referred to in context simply as "reagent test kits"

Reagent testing kits

A test is done by taking a small scraping from a pill and placing it in the reagent testing liquid.[1] 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 unaccounted for by the testing process. Testing kits are distributed on a not-for-profit basis by Dancesafe and commercially.

Reagent Test Reactions for Substances Present
Substance Mandelin Marquis Mecke Simon's Robadope's
2C-T-7 Maroon to Black Apricot Red to purple No reaction Dark purple
Acetaminophen Moderate olive Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Amphetamine (Dark) green Orange/brown No reaction No reaction Red
Benzphetamine Brilliant yellow green Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Chlorpromazine Dark olive Deep purplish red Blackish red Unknown Unknown
Cocaine Deep orange yellow Clear (No change) Unknown Unknown Unknown
Codeine Dark olive Very dark purple Very dark bluish green Unknown Unknown
d-Amphetamine Moderate bluish green Strong reddish orange - Dark reddish brown Unknown Unknown Unknown
d-Methamphetamine Dark yellowish green Deep reddish orange - Dark reddish brown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) Moderate reddish brown Deep purplish red Deep bluish green Unknown Unknown
Dimethoxy-meth Dark olive brown Moderate olive Dark brown Unknown Unknown
Doxepin Very reddish brown Blackish red Very dark red Unknown Unknown
Dristan Greyish olive Dark grayish red Light olive brown Unknown Unknown
DXM No reaction Grey with smoke Yellow No reaction No reaction
Exedrine Dark olive Dark red Dark greyish yellow Unknown Unknown
Ketamine Orange/brown No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction
LSD Unknown Olive black Greenish black Unknown Unknown
Mace Moderate olive green Moderate yellow Dark greyish olive No reaction Unknown
MDA Bluish black[2] Dark purple to black Very dark blue No reaction Pink to brown (1–5 minutes)
MDEA Dark purple Dark purple Dark purple Blue No reaction
MDMA Bluish black[2] Dark purple Dark purple Blue No reaction
Mescaline Dark yellowish brown Strong orange Moderate olive Unknown Unknown
Methamphetamine (Dark) green Orange/brown No reaction Blue No reaction
Methadone Dark greyish blue Light yellowish pink Unknown Unknown Unknown
Methaqualone Very orange yellow No reaction No reaction No reaction Unknown
Methylone[3] Yellow Brown Orange/brown Blue No reaction
Methylphenidate Brilliant orange yellow Moderate orange yellow Unknown Pale violet Unknown
Opiates No reaction Pink/red/purple Green No reaction No reaction
PMA Green to brown No reaction No reaction No reaction Red
2C-B[3] No reaction Green Yellow/brown No reaction Red
2C-I[3] No reaction Yellow to green Dark brown No reaction Red
2C-T-xx No reaction No reaction Yellow to purple No reaction No reaction
4-MEC Unknown No reaction Light green Unknown Unknown

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.[4] For this reason it is essential to use multiple different tests to show all adulterants.

Tests available

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 zimmermann reagent for benzodiazepines is a good example - its use is limited to benzodiazepines, and when these are mis-sold it is usually by substitution of a different benzodiazepine, rendering the test unuseful for consumers.

The ehrlich reagent is an example of a single-application reagent which is used by consumers. It 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.

The National Institute of Justice provides information about "Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" in NIJ Standard–0604.01.[5]

Tests reliability

According to a 2003 research published in Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, 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.[6]

Legality

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;"[7]

Media

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Adulterant Screening Kit Instructions". DanceSafe. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  2. 1 2 "Dancesafe Mandelin Reagent". Dancesafe. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 TheAzo. "Marquis/Mecke/Mandellin results for stim/empathogen/2C-X, RC's & more". Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  4. ↑ Home pill testing doesn't show up PMA in a pill in Youtube.
  5. ↑ "NIJ Standard-0604.01" (PDF). National Institute of Justice.
  6. ↑ 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: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy. 23 (10): 1238–1244. doi:10.1592/phco.23.12.1238.32704. ISSN 1875-9114.
  7. ↑ "(720 ILCS 600/) Drug Paraphernalia Control Act.". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. ↑ What's In My Baggie? in Youtube.
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