[jimwhitson]

The first part of your message is a rather dangerous misconception. Many, many drugs can and have been dispensed on blotter paper, often as LSD mimics. For dozens of examples, see DEA Microgram bulletins passim (http://www.justice.gov/dea/pr/micrograms.shtml).

The point about bitterness is absolutely correct though, and certainly any purported LSD blotter that tastes bitter should be suspect.

Interestingly, at least one non-psychedelic has been found distributed on blotter paper: alprazolam (See http://www.justice.gov/dea/pr/micrograms/2008/mg0508.pdf), for which I'd tentatively expect the bitterness rule also to work.

[LSDsockpuppet]

It's worth noting that you can buy LSD test kits on Amazon (with Prime shipping, even!): http://www.amazon.com/NIK-Drug-Test-Kit-LSD/dp/B002ATUECS/

[Alex3917]

Those only test for the presence of any tryptamine, not LSD specifically. So even if it tests positive you could still be getting DOM/DOB/DOI. Which is bad, since those can kill you or else have serious negative effects if you take too much.

[munchhausen]

DOM, DOB and DOI are not tryptamines, but rather psychedelic amphetamines. This is an important distinction, as it means that the most common test kit (Ehrlich reagent), will not confuse them for LSD, contrary to what you said.

It is however true that there are substances which both fit on a blotter, and are indole psychedelics - e.g. 5-MeO-AMT, or other (other than LSD, that is) ergolines, such as LSB, ALD-52 (though these are extremely rare and (likely) share the safety profile of LSD). The Ehrlich test is not capable of distinguishing between different indoles, so you may get a case of mistaken identity in this scenario.

[Alex3917]

Oops, didn't realize the DOx family were psychedelic amphetamines. Thanks for correcting this.

[LSDsockpuppet]

I'm having trouble finding in-depth information about what a Modified Ehrlich's Reagent LSD test actually tests for. Would you mind telling me where you learned they test for any tryptamine, and any more information you might have on the matter?

Edit: This PDF: http://www.bvda.com/EN/download/np_instructions_2002.pdf says the test indicates the presence of ergot alkaloids, not tryptamines.

[jimwhitson]

I believe Ehrlich's tests for indoles, a family which includes tryptamines, but also lots of other things. Colour tests are never conclusive; increasingly persuasive results are usually obtained by combining several different colour tests, for example this post discussing LSD testing: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1101068&....

[gnosis]

Actually, the point about bitterness is wrong.

Both the blotter paper and the inks on it could have a taste. Also, the sensation of taste (or lack thereof) could be influenced psychosomatically, by conscious or subconscious expectations.

[jimwhitson]

Indeed, but where the downside is getting an unwanted dose of something like DOB it's advisable to err on the side of caution.

[gnosis]

My point is that the taste or lack thereof proves absolutely nothing. So you can't err on the side of caution using the taste test.

Anyway, by the time you taste it, it's too late.

[jimwhitson]

AIUI, the point is that a sane dose of LSD doesn't taste bitter, so if one rejects any bitter blotter then one would be erring on the side of caution - possibly rejecting perfectly good LSD due to a bitter ink or paper, but avoiding the great majority non-LSD psychedelics.

It's certainly preferable to identify a substance before tasting it, but it's not too late - spitting the paper out and rinsing the mouth out is likely at least to reduce the absorbed dose.

A perhaps more pressing problem is the risk of anxiety due to an innocently-bitter piece of blotter - I imagine a borderline-bad trip could be made much worse by a persistent fear that it would last >24h.

Of course, real caution would mean not eating anything cooked up by criminals in an illicit lab...