Frequently Asked Questions
How do Spot Kits work?
- Place a very small amount of your substance (pill, powder, or paper) in the provided test tube.
- You only need to use a small amount—about 1/10 of a blotter, a very small amount of powder, or a few crumbs scraped off of a pill.
- Add one or two drops of the provided reagent liquid into the test tube.
- There is no need to shake/stir the mixture; the liquid simply needs to come in contact with the substance.
- Observe as a color change takes place over the course of a minute, or film the reaction for later comparison.
- Match this color change over the course of one minute to the color guide inside the accompanying booklet, or to our drug reaction videos on the Android app, or on our Vimeo channel.
- For more detail on color change observation, refer to our Spectrum Color Guide page.
- Discard the test tubes, or empty and thoroughly wash and dry test tubes for future use.
- Clean the testing area thoroughly.
How does the Skylab Separation Kit Work?
Our Skylab separation kits have the ability to separate mixed substances—allowing you to identify each different component of the mixture individually. A huge advantage of these kits is that they also provide an approximate sense of how much of each substance is present—a feature otherwise only possible using full laboratory analysis.
This acutely thorough, but relatively simple process only takes about 20 minutes. Our kits are sensitive down to the microgram for some substances—allowing the user to detect and quantify even the smallest amounts of dangerous cutting agents.
How to use:
- Place your substance on the edge of a provided “card” made of aluminum and silica.
- Place this card in a small amount of our special developing liquid.
- The developing liquid will slowly travel up the card, carrying your sample with it. This process separates the different components (cutting agents, etc.) that are present.
- Remove the card and allow it to dry for a few minutes.
- Use the included black light to see where each component is on the card.
- Use our spot test kits (mentioned above) to identify these substances directly on the card.
- Observe the sizes of each individual spot.
- If all spots are identical in size, it can be assumed there is roughly the same amount of each component in the substance (i.e. three evenly sized spots indicate around 33% of each component in the substance).
- If the spots are drastically different in size, there is drastically more of one substance present than the others.
- For instance, if you have two spots, and one spot is around three times as large as the other, there is roughly three times as much of one component present in the substance as a whole.
For full, detailed instruction, refer to our Skylab Separation Test Kit Basics page!
Does the Marquis Spot Test Kit test for everything?
The Marquis Spot Test Kit does not cover everything. One very notable exception is fentanyl – in order to test for this dangerous adulterant you will need a FentKit.
For the best spot kit to use (if you can only purchase one) please refer to our “Which Kit Should I Use?” section, and find the substance you are interested in testing for drug-specific recommendations.
Do I need more than one spot test kit?
Not necessarily, although it is an excellent idea to use more than one if possible. This allows you to check for different cutting agents and also double check your results.
Ideally, we recommend using the Apollo Multiple Test Kit Packages for comprehensive, accurate drug identification, as well as detection of cutting agents. With these, you can find the substance you intend on testing, and purchase a package with the required spot kits included (2-4 reagents, depending on the substance) to have as much certainty as possible that these substances are what they claim to be.
If you can only afford one spot kit (with one reagent), this still provides more certainty than not conducting any drug checking at all. For the best spot kit to use (if you can only purchase one) please refer to our “Which Kit Should I Use?” section, and find the substance you are interested in testing for drug-specific recommendations.
My substance reacted extremely fast, does that mean it is “purer” than normal?
No. A faster reaction is not necessarily a “better” reaction and can in some cases indicate a completely different substance. Reactions should match both in speed and coloration.
Can I test liquids?
Yes. Suspected liquid LSD can be dropped onto a piece of untreated paper and dried before placing it in the test tube. To make sure the paper is untreated, first test a plain piece to make sure it does not react on its own. If it does not, use a separate piece to drop your substance liquid on, allow it to dry, and test with your spot test kit.
Can I test gelatin or other foods?
Geltabs—small squares of dried gelatin containing a psychedelic, such as LSD—can be tested. Place a very small amount into the test tube, and follow the steps as normal.
Other food / drug combinations with a small amount of material (sugar cubes, candies, etc.) and plant material cannot be tested with the spot kits. They can (in some cases) be separated and identified using the Skylab kit. Brownies, cookies, beverages, etc., that contain a lot of foreign non-drug material cannot be tested.
What are the “pebbles” or powder inside the jar my kit came in?
This is Vermiculite—a type of expanded clay used for shipping and absorbing chemicals. Do not remove this material; it is an important safety measure. Do not carry the bottle(s) of liquid in anything other than our plastic jars. Do not keep them in your pocket or bag. If the liquid spills or leaks, it could melt through fabric, damaging materials, and potentially causing burns to your skin.
Can I reuse the test tube(s) that came with my kit?
Yes! The tubes must be emptied after use, thoroughly washed out with plenty of water, and allowed to completely dry before using it again.
How many tests can be performed with each kit (reagent liquid)?
Our plastic bottles kits come with 5 ml (50 – 100 uses) of testing liquid, and our glass bottles come with 10ml (100 – 200 uses) of testing liquid.
Beyond the size difference, is there any reason to use the plastic vs. glass bottles?
Plastic:
- Pros: These bottles are nearly indestructible, seal incredibly well, and are easy to use (they drip easily).
- Cons: They do not last quite as long as our amber glass bottles, because they are clear (allowing UV), and react with the testing liquid over time, eventually ruining your kit.
Glass:
- Pros: These are made from UV-blocking amber glass, which is more resistant to the testing liquid. Glass can last a bit longer than the plastic version if properly refrigerated.
- Cons: Compared to the plastic bottles, they are more difficult to open / close, and the built-in dropper can be more difficult to use. It helps to lightly tap the bottom of the bottle when trying to get a drop out.
Do Bunk Police test kits ever expire?
We do not recommend using a test kit that is older than one year, even if kept in optimal conditions.
The expiration dates of our products vary greatly depending on their storage conditions. Ideally, the liquid reagents should be tightly sealed, upright, and kept in the refrigerator / freezer. They can also be kept at room temperature, or in the shade outdoors (avoiding direct sunlight), keeping them under 80 degrees fahrenheit, if possible.
If the reagents are left inside of a hot car in the summer, or left sitting directly underneath a hot desk lamp all night, you can expect a significantly shorter lifespan. Instead of lasting up to a year, the lifespan could be shortened to last only a few days / weeks.
How can I increase the life of my test kits?
To increase the lifespan of your kits, keep the reagent bottles upright in the jar that they were shipped in. Do not remove the powder inside of the jar (it keeps them dry). Keep them in your refrigerator (freezer, if possible), or in a cool, dry, place, away from direct sunlight.
Why is my Mandelin liquid yellow / orange – and did it change colors right after I received it?
The Mandelin spot kit liquid may be anywhere from translucent orange to opaque yellow in color when purchased / delivered. This is normal. It should not be green—this indicates expiration due to heat or age.
Is there an identification test for psilocybin “magic mushrooms”?
Unfortunately, the only way to be certain a mushroom is hallucinogenic is to send it to a laboratory for full analysis. Many sites claim that “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms” can be accurately tested with the Ehrlich reagent. Though Ehrlich can detect psilocybin and psilocin, the positive reaction when testing with Ehrlich is not specific to these hallucinogenic indoles. In fact, Ehrlich will react positively to all indoles and many other alkaloids, such as tryptophan.
Other than full laboratory analysis, psilocybin mushrooms can be observed for a few telltale physical indications. If the mushrooms are not fully dried, simply pinch them to see if blue bruising occurs—this is a strong indication that the mushrooms are hallucinogenic. Psilocybe mushrooms also typically have a veil around their gills when growing, and have purple-brown spores that leave distinct prints.
If you know that your mushrooms are hallucinogenic, you can test the potency using our Psilocybin QTest Kit. This kit will tell you the percentage and milligram amount of psilocybin/psilocin in your mushrooms.
After testing with a QTest, the results indicate that my substance is extremely pure. If my substance is “pure,” does this mean it’s “clean” or safe?
Absolutely not. In the context of this kit, the word “purity” simply indicates the concentration of the active ingredient in your substance. It does NOT indicate that your substance is “clean,” or that it does not contain dangerous cutting agents.
For example, let’s say you’re testing MDMA using a QTest. Your results indicate that your substance has 28 mg of MDMA per 32 mg of powder you tested. This means your MDMA is about 88% pure. Sounds good, right?
The problem is, this does NOT indicate what that remaining percentage contains. Your substance could be 88% MDMA, 10% methamphetamine, and 2% fentanyl. This second substance could seriously alter your experience, and the third could be fatal.
This is why it is incredibly important to understand the true meaning (and limitations) of “purity,” and to always test for fentanyl, along with another Spot Test Kit or Package. Spot Test Kits positively identify your substance, and rule out deadly cutting agents—our QTests are extremely useful in determining a substance’s concentration, but they do not identify your substance. Similarly, Fent Strips are the only way to rule out the presence of fentanyl.
What’s the difference between a QTest Purity Test Kit and a Separation Test Kit?
QTests determine the concentration of a specific active ingredient (drug) in your sample. They provide a milligram amount or percentage amount to measure the purity or potency of your substance.
Separation Test Kits separate out and identify the substance(s) in a sample, allowing you to verify your substance, and check for potential cutting agents.
QTests do NOT identify your substance, and in certain cases (like with the MDMA QTest) it will react similarly with other non-MDMA substances. This is why it is incredibly important to verify your sample with a Spot Test Kit, or Separation Test Kit, before testing it for its concentration.
What surfaces can I perform my test on?
If you do not have access to our approved test tubes or testing platforms, you may also use a completely clean, dry:
- White ceramic plate
- Clear, glass container
- Water bottle lid
- Anything made of polypropylene plastic (labeled with PP, or a #5 recycling symbol)
- Anything made of low-density polyethylene plastic (labeled with LDPE, or a #4 recycling symbol)