Drug Checking FAQs

For our chemical analysis, we need a small amount of the substance you would like to have tested. This will be registered by our acceptance team at events and in the home base.

To register, you will be asked for some data about the sample and entered into our database. The information is voluntary and is stored anonymously. They are used for our research.

Under our guidance, you then fill a small portion of your sample into a sample tube. We only need a few milligrams of powder, half a trip or a few drops of the liquid for the analysis.

The sample is then given a sample number. You can use this to check your result later. The samples are then taken to our laboratory and analysed by the laboratory team.

If you wish, you can also ask our counsellors for further information and advice when handing in your sample.

At events, the reception is set up in a tent - our "sample tent". This is always located directly next to our information and counselling services. To ensure the anonymity of visitors, only one person at a time is allowed into this tent.

The process of handing in a substance works in the same way as at Homebase - the sample is registered, data is entered and you fill the substance into a sample tube under our guidance. The sample is then given a number and forwarded to the laboratory. You can then use the sample number to check your result later.

The analysis result will be displayed on the results wall in the information area after approx. 30-60 minutes. You can look up the result of your sample using a number. If you wish, members of the team can advise you on the result and give you further information.

You can always check your result with your sample number. At events, the results are displayed on the information wall.

If you have used the analysis via Homebase or the pharmacies, you can request the result either in writing online or by telephone. The results are normally available the following Thursday (if they are handed in by Monday). Simply give us your sample number and we will give you the result and further information.

You will receive your result here.

If you hand in your sample by Monday morning (10:00), you will normally receive your result the following Thursday.

For powders and pills, we need about 15 milligrams of powder for the analysis.

In the case of pills, rub off a little of the pill on the spot.

For trips, we need at least half of it for the analysis.

For liquids we need a few drops.

Presumably all appointments and sample registrations for this week are already taken. It's best to try again in a few days. Sometimes appointments are cancelled at short notice and become available again.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please cancel it. Then someone else can use it.

If you entered your email address when you made your reservation, we ask you to cancel the appointment using the link in the confirmation email.

Alternatively, you can also call us (01/4000-53650) or send us an e-mail to checkit@suchthilfe.at or write us via the Counselling platform . We will cancel the appointment for you and it will be available for other people.

This gives another person the opportunity to have a substance tested.

The code remains valid. You can submit your sample at a later date. If it is a different sample (different substance), please get a new code so that the data in our database is correct.

If you have lost your sample number, please contact the checkit! staff. You can find our contact details here.

For legal reasons, we cannot accept samples by post. The sample must be disposed of/destroyed and will not be analysed.

We analyse synthetic and semi-synthetic psychoactive substances.

No Analysis possible with:

  • Plant material (exception: mescaline or cannabis if synthetic cannabinoids are suspected)
  • Medicines (exception: they were purchased online without a prescription, e.g. benzodiazepines from the darknet)
  • Anabolic steroids, steroids and supplements

If an analysis result states "unknown substance", this means that our laboratory has discovered a pharmacologically active substance, but cannot say at this stage exactly what it is. What is certain, however, is that it is not one of the "usual" psychoactive substances that we normally analyse. Because we could recognise these.

We are therefore unable to assess the risk of consumption. We warn against these samples.

The warnings only ever contain those analysis results that are categorised as unexpected or of particular concern. In the case of ecstasy tablets, those that are "high-dose" are also listed. All other results are not included in the warnings.

You can find a summary of our analysis in our annual report, for example

LSD usually occurs as a tartrate. This means that the LSD molecule binds to other molecules so that it is more stable. Nevertheless, we report the result as a "free" base. The reason for this is that the tartrate form can be single or double bonded and we cannot determine analytically which form is present. However, it makes a difference to the potency which form is present. The conversion factor is 1.23 for double-bonded and 1.46 for single-bonded forms, which means that the calculation as a "free base" offers the highest possible accuracy in the analysis.

For the result, this means that in order to calculate the tartrate and thus arrive at the approximate active ingredient content of your sample, you must multiply the base by 1.23 and by 1.46. The actual active substance content lies somewhere between this range. Experience has shown that the double-bonded form (* 1.23) occurs more frequently.

Here is an example calculation:

We have calculated an LSD base content of 50µg.

50µg * 1.23 = 61.5µg

50µg * 1.46 = 73µg

The sample therefore contains between 61.5 and 73µg LSD.

 

The higher the content calculated by us, the greater the fluctuation range:

LSD Base 100µg

100µg * 1.23 = 123µg

100µg * 1.46 = 146µg

The sample therefore contains between 123 and 146µg LSD.

It is possible that the concentration of ingredients within a substance is not always equally distributed.

First mix the entire powder well before taking the sample. The ingredients are distributed more evenly and an even more accurate analysis result is possible.

We only list pharmacologically active ingredients in our analyses. The remaining ingredients in the sample have no pharmacological effect (e.g. lactose etc.). Sometimes even non-effective cutting agents can trigger intolerances or allergies or be contaminated with pathogens.

The analysis specifically looks for synthetic cannabinoids. We do not analyse other cutting agents such as sugar, Brix, ....

We do not specify THC or CBD content.