Pill testing
Encyclopedia
Pill Testing is a process used to identify substances contained within a pill, usually illicit substances.
Since illicit drugs like MDMA are bought from drug dealers on the black market, both the source and contents of the substance are unknown. Pills sold by dealers as Ecstasy, may not contain the desired substance, usually being MDMA. Testing the pill can show if substances, such as MDMA, are present.
and commercially.
The EZ Test kits, Mandelin, Marquis, Mecke, Simon's and Robadope's are commercially available reagent testing kits. The EZ Test table here is a general guideline of the reactions from each substance and testing kit instructions may indicate different results. Reactions may show different colours if more than one substance is present. By using a series of these reagents, one can determine by the process of elimination what substance the pill contains. For example, marquis turns black in the presence of MDMA, and a common misconception is that if the marquis goes black, you have MDMA. But it can also turn black in the presence of MDA, MDEA or other less common MDXX-series analogs so usually a series of these tests are done to further determine contents.
Online testing kits are used by individuals to post reports to TranceSafe and the Pill Reports websites. At nightclubs and rave events organisations such as Enlighten Harm Reduction
in Australia, Dancesafe
in the United States and the Green Party Drugs Group in the United Kingdom conduct on-site pill testing.
, Dancesafe
, MAPS
, and the Promind Foundation. Testing is done using a GC/MS
, which can identify much more substances than a reagent test. Substances identified are listed on their website. Substances sent in to the lab are destroyed in the testing process or destroyed by the lab under DEA guidelines.
Since illicit drugs like MDMA are bought from drug dealers on the black market, both the source and contents of the substance are unknown. Pills sold by dealers as Ecstasy, may not contain the desired substance, usually being MDMA. Testing the pill can show if substances, such as MDMA, are present.
Reagent Testing Kits
A test is done by taking a small scraping from a pill and placing it in the reagent testing liquid. 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 DancesafeDanceSafe
DanceSafe is a nonprofit organization, with 3 local chapters in the US and Canada.DanceSafe youth volunteers set up tables at raves and other events to distribute educational literature containing information describing the effects and risks associated with the use of various drugs and sell testing...
and commercially.
| Substance | Mandelin | Marquis Marquis reagent The Marquis reagent is used as a simple spot-test to presumptively identify alkaloids as well as other compounds. It is composed of a mixture of formaldehyde and concentrated sulfuric acid, which is dripped onto the substance being tested... | Mecke | Simon's | Robadope's |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDMA | dark purple | dark purple | dark purple | blue | no reaction |
| MDEA Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine is an entactogen, psychedelic, and stimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes.... |
dark purple | dark purple | dark purple | blue | no reaction |
| MDA | dark purple | dark purple | dark purple | no reaction | red |
| Methamphetamine Methamphetamine Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs... |
(dark) green | orange/brown | no reaction | blue | no reaction |
| Amphetamine Amphetamine Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,... |
(dark) green | orange/brown | no reaction | no reaction | red |
| PMA PMA para-Methoxyamphetamine , also known as 4-methoxyamphetamine , is a serotonergic drug of the amphetamine class... |
green to brown | no reaction | no reaction | no reaction | red |
| Ketamine Ketamine Ketamine is a drug used in human and veterinary medicine. Its hydrochloride salt is sold as Ketanest, Ketaset, and Ketalar. Pharmacologically, ketamine is classified as an NMDA receptor antagonist... |
orange/brown | no reaction | no reaction | no reaction | no reaction |
| 2C-B 2C-B 2C-B or 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine is a psychedelic drug of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. In Shulgin's book PiHKAL, the dosage range is listed as 16–24 mg. 2C-B is sold as a white powder sometimes pressed in tablets or gel caps and is referred... |
no reaction | green | no reaction | no reaction | red |
| 2C-I 2C-I 2C-I or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. It was described in Shulgin’s book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. The drug is used recreationally for its psychedelic and entactogenic effects... |
no reaction | green | no reaction | no reaction | red |
| DXM | no reaction | grey with smoke | yellow | no reaction | no reaction |
| Opiates | no reaction | pink/red/purple | green | no reaction | no reaction |
| 2C-T-xx 2C-T 2C-T is a psychedelic and hallucinogenic drug of the 2C family. It is used by some as an entheogen. It has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drugs mescaline and 2C-T-2.... |
no reaction | no reaction | yellow to purple | no reaction | no reaction |
| 4-MEC | unknown | no reaction | light green | unknown | unknown |
The EZ Test kits, Mandelin, Marquis, Mecke, Simon's and Robadope's are commercially available reagent testing kits. The EZ Test table here is a general guideline of the reactions from each substance and testing kit instructions may indicate different results. Reactions may show different colours if more than one substance is present. By using a series of these reagents, one can determine by the process of elimination what substance the pill contains. For example, marquis turns black in the presence of MDMA, and a common misconception is that if the marquis goes black, you have MDMA. But it can also turn black in the presence of MDA, MDEA or other less common MDXX-series analogs so usually a series of these tests are done to further determine contents.
Online testing kits are used by individuals to post reports to TranceSafe and the Pill Reports websites. At nightclubs and rave events organisations such as Enlighten Harm Reduction
Enlighten Harm Reduction
Enlighten Harm Reduction is an organisation based in Melbourne, Victoria, dedicated to informing drug users of what different chemicals are in their drugs by using various tests...
in Australia, Dancesafe
DanceSafe
DanceSafe is a nonprofit organization, with 3 local chapters in the US and Canada.DanceSafe youth volunteers set up tables at raves and other events to distribute educational literature containing information describing the effects and risks associated with the use of various drugs and sell testing...
in the United States and the Green Party Drugs Group in the United Kingdom conduct on-site pill testing.
GC/MS
EcstasyData.org is an independent laboratory pill testing program co-sponsored by ErowidErowid
Erowid, also called The Vaults of Erowid, is an online library of information about psychoactive plants and chemicals and other topics on altered states of consciousness such as meditation and lucid dreaming. It provides information about legal and illegal substances, including their desired and...
, Dancesafe
DanceSafe
DanceSafe is a nonprofit organization, with 3 local chapters in the US and Canada.DanceSafe youth volunteers set up tables at raves and other events to distribute educational literature containing information describing the effects and risks associated with the use of various drugs and sell testing...
, MAPS
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is a membership-based 501 non-profit research and educational organization working to develop psychedelics and marijuana into legal prescription drugs...
, and the Promind Foundation. Testing is done using a GC/MS
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry is a method that combines the features of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify different substances within a test sample. Applications of GC-MS include drug detection, fire investigation, environmental analysis, explosives investigation,...
, which can identify much more substances than a reagent test. Substances identified are listed on their website. Substances sent in to the lab are destroyed in the testing process or destroyed by the lab under DEA guidelines.