How to test amphetamine (speed): reduce risk by using an amphetamine test kit to check it for adulterants. Pure amphetamine usually looks white but can’t be identified by appearence. To test amphetamine use reagent tests MarquisMeckeRobadope and Simon’s in single-use or multiple-use test kits. Reagent tests are simple chemicals that indicate presence of a substance by reacting with different color change to different substances.  To test you need just 1 drop of a reagent and a small sample, about this big -> To detect all ingredients and estimate potency it’s required to use an additional amphetamine purity test kitTo detect fentanyl or test for fentanyl analogs use the fentanyl test strips.

Reagents presumptively indicate PRESENCE, but not QUANTITY. Use different reagent tests to improve accuracy and to detect adulterants – 90% of adulterants will react with 1 out of 3 tests and 95% with 1 out of 5. To detect all ingredients and estimate potency it’s required to use an additional purity test kitA positive or negative test result does not indicate if the substance is safe. No substance is 100% safe.

How can I test amphetamine?

Short instructions:

BEFORE using an amphetamine test kit
  • it’s RECOMMENDED to record the reaction to compare later.
  • if testing a pill, crush it finely and proceed testing using the powder
Amphetamine testing instructions
  • Take a (small) piece of your powder/pill, about this big -> ●.
  • Put it on a suitable testing plate, preferably a spot test plate or the bottom/underside of a ceramic mug (example). *If using single-use vials insert the sample and observe, as the reagent is already within.
  • Add one (or two) drops of Marquis reagent test (or other supplied) on the sample and wait for the results.
  • Check reagent test results with instructions below.
  • Consider using the TLC Amphetamine Purity Test Kit to double check possible adulterants and estimate potency.
AFTER using an amphetamine test kit
  • OPTIONAL: Pour baking soda over a finished reaction to neutralize used reagents.
  • Wash testing surface under running water.

For full instructions scroll further down below.

VIDEO & RESULTS Watch how to test amphetamine

TL;DR: Below is an image with a quick cheat sheet how to use the Amphetamine Test Kit and further down you can check out more detailed guide how to test amphetamine. Use the amphetamine reagent test results chart to see how to use Marquis reagentMecke, Robadope and Simon’s and what are the expected results.

All amphetamine test results:

TEST AMPHETAMINE
MARQUIS Orange
MECKE No color change
MANDELIN Dark green
LIEBERMANN Orange > Red
FROEHDE No color change
EHRLICH No color change
HOFMANN No color change
SIMON’S No blue color change
ROBADOPE Slow pink
SCOTT No full color change
ZIMMERMANN

 

Amphetamine test did not react as expected? Watch out!
All test results are available in our instructions and the TestDrugs app.

STEP ONE How to identify amphetamine?

What test kit do I need to test amphetamine?

SAMPLE RECOMMENDED AMPHETAMINE TEST KITS
Amphetamine

Reagents can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary reagents react with the expected substance while secondary produce a vibrant color change with an adulterant. Here are a few key notes:

  • Marquis – primary test for most powders, secondary test for cocaine, ketamine, mephedrone and blotters
  • Mecke – primary test for most powders, secondary test for cocaine, ketamine, mephedrone; short shelf life
  • Robadope – main test for for primary amines, e.g. amphetamine, MDA or PMA
  • Simon’s – main test for for secondary amines, e.g. meth, mephedrone, methylone, MDMA or PMMA

Marquis reagent is the main test for meth/amphetamine and produces a strong orange color change which fades to dark brown. Mecke reagent is the follow up primary test to confirm the presence of meth over amphetamine. Simon’s and Robadope are useful both to confirm meth/amphetamine as well as detect secondary amines (meth, MDMA, PMMA, mephedrone derrivatives) in primary amines (2C-x, amphetamine, MDA, PMA).

Amphetamine test results with Marquis reagent, Robadope, Mandelin, Mecke, Simon's, Liebermann.

Amphetamine confirmed by a Reddit user

Results match amphetamine, but Marquis is too dark (possibly due to sample size) and Mecke might be indicating presence of a bulking agent.
How to use the amphetamine test kit?
  • Check test results with Marquis test kit: if testing meth/amphetamine there should be an orange color change turning darker over time.
  • To tell apart meth from amphetamine, use Robadope reagent (turns pink with primary amines, e.g. amphetamine) or Simon’s (turns instantly blue with secondary amines, e.g. methamphetamine).
  • Test as small sample as possible and only try more if you are not getting a conclusive result.

STEP TWO How to test amphetamine purity?

According to the EMCDDA and drugsdata.org amphetamine is usually adulterated with caffeine and creatine, however sometimes samples also contain potent new psychoactive substances with unknown risk profiles.

Try secondary reagents. Secondary reagents produce a vibrant color change with an adulterant, but not with the expected substance.

Secondary reagent tests for meth/amphetamine:
  • Froehde reagent does not react with meth/amphetamine, but does with most powders
  • Simon’s reagent can confirm secondary amines (meth, MDMA, x-MMC, or PMMA)
  • Robadope reagent can confirm primary amines (amphetamine, MDA, 2C-x or PMA)
  • Zimmermann reagent can detect secondary (4-MMC derrivatives) and tertiary (a-PVP analogs) cathinones
How to test MDMA with reagent test Marquis, Simon's and Robadope

How to detect cathinones in amphetamine with Zimmermann reagent and Froehde

Zimmermann goes purple with mephedrone analogs or benzodiazepines
Robadope turns pink in the presence of primary amines such as amphetamine

How to detect amphetamine with Robadope reagent

Robadope turns pink in the presence of primary amines such as amphetamine

Next choose a purity testing kit. It enables you to separate sample into different substances and estimate quantity, however still requires reagent tests to identify detected substances. To discover all adulterants and quantity pair reagents with a TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) Purity Test Kit. TLC Purity tests alone don’t identify substances and are best paired with 1-2 reagent tests.

TLC Purity Tests:
  • Qualitative: One spot indicates a pure substance. TLC test works by separating substances present in a sample in order to reagent test them individually.  You can also use an already confirmed sample for reference – if both compounds show up at the same height on the TLC “card” that indicates they are the same substance.
  • Semi-quantitative: TLC also helps estimate quantity (potency). The bigger the size of the detected spot, the bigger the amount of measured substance. Note that different substances need different calibrated rulers.
TLC Purity Test potency scale

TLC Purity Test potency scale

  • To estimate amphetamine purity (number of ingredients and their concentration) use the Substance Purity Test Kit.
  • To precisly estimate MDMA purity use the MDMA Purity Test Kit, which in addition includes a calibrated plastic ruler.

For full TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) instructions read our guide how to test drugs purity.

FENTANYL How to detect fentanyl?

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is an extremely potent and dangerous synthetic opioid, often mixed in street drugs and deadly.

BEFORE using a fentanyl test strip
  • It’s RECOMMENDED to test each and every dose. Because of extreme potency (microgram range) fentanyl is never evenly mixed in. One part of a baggie can be fentanyl free and another lethal.
How to test AMPHETAMINE?
How to test fentanyl powder / pills / spice with a fentanyl test strip?
  • Dissolve 100 mg in at least 125 ml of water (half a cup or at least 1 mg/ml).
  • Grab a test strip and insert the white end into the liquid, no higher than the thick line.
  • Wait until liquid starts visibly moving up the test strip (up to 15 seconds).
  • Put the test strip away on a flat dry surface and read the result in 2 minutes.
  • Check test strip result: a single line confirms the presence of fentanyl, while two lines (even faint) rule it out.

Fentanyl test did not react as indicated? Watch out!
All test results are available in our instructions and the TestDrugs app.

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FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

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