Erowid LSD Vault : Info on Field Testing for LSD

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How to Field Test for LSD
Avoid duds by Testing them Yourself.

Following are step-by-step instructions for field testing blotter for LSD

Extract a section of the blotter with a minimal amount of ethanol. (enough to leave you with a few drops of liquid)
Put a drop of the extraction on a 4-(dimethylamino)-benzaldehyde impregnated piece of filter (or chromatographical) paper.
Allow to dry.
Put one drop of concentrated hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid will work) on one side of the paper. A colored front should migrate over the paper (concentrating the color).
A purple colored ring will appear (changing to blue 30-60 minutes later) if alfa or beta unsubstituted indoles are present (the whole paper will color if large amounts are present). This purple / blue coloring signifies the presence of LSD.

According to the source, this simple field test is able to detect 7.5 micrograms (ug) of lsd without a problem (typical doses were listed as 75-250 micrograms; you should get that lucky or unlucky for that matter)

Last Modified - Thu, Jun 7, 2001

Used by Erowid without permission of author

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