The wonderful world of reagent testing
Oat is a peer who never lets dodgy pills get between them and a good night out! They regularly find themselves testing pills on the fly and in the process of keeping themselves and their mates safe, they’ve become a peer expert!
We’ve asked Oat to be a regular contributor to the Users News website around reagent testing. Check out this Testing 101 piece to get you started — then stay tuned for more! In their July offering, Oat will be sharing some of their stories and the tips and tricks they have learned along the way. The UN team hopes it encourages you to play safer by getting into testing your drugs.
Hey there! My name is Oat and I’m a colour-blind chemist with a keen interest in reagent testing and all related topics. Over the past few years, I have performed reagent pill testing in a variety of situations including festival dancefloors, uni bathrooms and house parties. The following is my summary of all the basics you need to know about reagent testing and how you can keep yourself safe using it.
What you need to know about pill testing at home
Can I test my own drugs at home?
Yes! Yes, you can! Drug testing kits (reagent tests) can help you figure out what drug you have/don’t have in your possession. They are easy to use, legal to buy and could save a life or prevent a ruined night.
What are reagent testing kits?
Reagents are liquids which change colour when they come in contact with certain drugs, this colour change is unique and tells us which drug is present. Often, there are multiple drugs present and this is why we use multiple different reagents because they are made for specific drugs.
Why should I use them?
There could be anything in your drugs and sometimes what you buy will contain more than one drug, or a completely different drug than what you wanted. Both can be dangerous, and both can be identified with testing kits!
Where can I get them?
You can buy single use kits from some tobacconists or online. The single use kits are very handy to bring somewhere you won’t have much time or space to test in. However they can be pricey. Multi-use test kits can also be bought online from a huge range of suppliers. Multi-use kits are cheaper in the long run, so we recommend getting them. You can test other people's drugs too and keep the community safe.
How do I use them?
Your kits will come with instructions. However, the general rule of thumb is to put a drop of the reagent onto a pin-head sized piece of the drug you are testing. The liquid may change colour, compare this colour change to your colour chart and there you go! Repeat with different reagents to identify different substances.
So what do I need?
You only need three things.
Testing kits, colour chart and testing surface.
Testing kits. The more the better. Depending on what drug you are testing you will need specific reagent kits.
Colour chart. This is specific to each reagent; it will match a colour to a drug. These are available online or with your testing kit.
Testing surface. This should not be coloured because it will make the results very confusing. Either a white plate (not paper), clear hard plastic or glass (think a glass cup or water bottle lid). The testing liquid is very acidic, so do not let it touch your skin, it will also destroy paper and fabric.
Benefits
Drug testing kits are legal to buy in Australia, however the police may still confiscate them if they find them. They are cheap and easy to use. They will give you peace of mind if you take or sell a drug. Knowing what you are taking can greatly improve your experience.
Barriers
If you are colour-blind, tests are very difficult to interpret. However there are phone apps available which can tell colours for you — or you can ask a friend! Reagents require access to a specific colour chart, however these should come with your testing kits or be available online. These kits are not 100% effective — especially for products with more than one drug. You can never be certain what is in your drugs unless they are analysed in a lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
How reliable are reagent kits?
Reagent kits are not definitive, meaning that they will not tell you exactly what drug or drugs you have. They give a good estimate which provides safer drug use when combined with other harm reduction measures.
Am I allowed to take these into festivals/events?
Most likely no. Testing kits will often get confiscated by security or police as they are considered drug paraphernalia. Doofs or raves might be more lenient as they tend to advocate harm reduction practices more.
Are there better ways of testing?
Yes. These reagent tests are just the beginning! There are a few organisations in Australia who are equipped with analytical chemistry equipment that can tell you exactly what is in your drugs, however until these services become legal and widespread, reagent tests are our best option.
Tips n' Tricks
High temperatures will leave your test kits fully cooked. So, keep them in a cool space when you are not using them, perhaps an esky if you’re at a festival or in the fridge at home. Room temperature is also fine.
Put some baking soda on the liquid when you have finished, this will neutralise it and make it safer to wash down the sink. Look after the fishies!
Some handy tools to keep with your kits are: razor blade for shaving pills; tweezers or little spoon for picking up powder; latex/nitrile gloves to keep your skin safe; and, scissors for cutting tabs.
Video the reaction, you can then easily review the colour change.
Further resources
Information – www.reddit.com/r/ReagentTesting – www.dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions – www.erowid.org – www.dancewizensw.org.au
Colour charts and reaction videos – http://verbinding.110110.nl/table.aspx - www.dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions - www.reagent-tests.uk/reagent-test-colours
To buy reagent kits, google “reagent kits Australia” for some options.