Psychedelic Mushrooms: Can The Scram Patch Detect Them?

Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are potent psychedelic fungi that contain the mind-altering substances psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms and is largely responsible for the psychedelic experience. While magic mushrooms are a class A drug, they typically do not show up on standard drug tests like common 5, 8, 10, or 12-panel urine tests, which focus on substances like THC, cocaine, and opioids. However, specialized tests, particularly hair and fingernail tests, can detect their presence under certain circumstances, especially if the test occurs soon after ingestion. The sweat patch test is the least common type of test administered and is usually reserved for specific professions, such as child protective services and law enforcement.

Standard drug tests

In contrast, hair and fingernail samples tend to hold on to psilocybin for a longer period. Hair sample drug tests are considered the most effective method for detecting recent and ongoing magic mushroom use. It takes about two to three weeks for psilocybin metabolites to reach the keratin fibres of the hair, but once they do, the detection window is as long as the hair sample. Each 1 cm of hair represents one month of drug use, so a positive test on a 3 cm hair sample indicates consumption over approximately three months. Similarly, fingernails can detect psilocybin for up to six months as the compounds become incorporated into the keratin fibres as the nail grows.

While standard drug tests typically do not include psilocybin or psilocin, specialised tests can detect their presence. These specialised tests may be ordered by a court or in legal scenarios such as child custody disputes. The sweat patch test is another method used by certain professions, including child protective services, law enforcement, high-security jobs, and rehab centres. However, this type of test is the least common for detecting magic mushroom use.

Specialised tests

Standard drug tests do not typically detect the presence of psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms. However, specialised tests can identify psilocybin use under certain circumstances.

The sweat patch test is one type of specialised test that can detect magic mushroom use. This test is commonly used in child protective services, law enforcement, high-security jobs, and rehab centres. The sweat patch test is typically worn for 7-14 days and collects sweat continuously during this period. It is a less invasive method of testing compared to urine or blood tests.

Hair and fingernail drug tests are also effective in detecting psilocybin use, as the compound is rapidly metabolised into psilocin, which can be traced in these samples. The longer the time between consumption and testing, the lower the chances of detecting mushrooms. Additionally, the frequency of mushroom consumption can impact the likelihood of detection, with regular use increasing the chances of a positive test result.

It is important to note that magic mushrooms can become contaminated by other detectable drugs, which may also influence the results of specialised tests. The potency of the mushrooms can vary, and ongoing research is being conducted to analyse the active ingredients and their effects.

Sweat patch tests

The likelihood of detecting mushroom use also depends on the time elapsed since consumption and the frequency of use. The body metabolises psilocybin rapidly, so tests must be conducted promptly to increase the chances of detection. The more frequently an individual consumes mushrooms, the higher the likelihood of detection in a drug test.

While routine workplace drug tests or probation screenings usually do not detect magic mushrooms, court-ordered or forensic testing may involve specialised tests capable of identifying psilocybin. Certain professions requiring high-level clearances may also necessitate more extensive testing that could potentially detect mushroom use.

In ongoing legal scenarios, such as child dispute cases, urine tests may not always be the most effective method for detecting magic mushroom misuse unless specific tests are readily available on the day of testing. Other factors that can influence detection include the potential contamination of mushrooms by other detectable drugs and the type of test administered, with hair and fingernail tests being more likely to detect psilocybin use.

Overall, while sweat patch tests are not commonly employed, specialised testing methods can detect magic mushroom use under certain circumstances, particularly if the consumption was recent and frequent.

Hair and fingernail tests

Standard drug tests do not screen for psilocybin or psilocin, the active compounds in magic mushrooms. Instead, special tests are required to detect them.

Hair sample drug tests are the most effective method of detecting recent and ongoing magic mushroom misuse. Although it might take up to 2-3 weeks for the metabolites to reach the keratin fibres of the hair, once they do, the detection window is as long as the hair sample. Each 1 cm of hair represents one month of drug misuse. If psilocybin is detectable in 3 cm of hair, legal professionals can assume consumption was ongoing for 3 months, and so on.

Hair tests can reveal psilocybin mushrooms up to ninety days after consumption. Routine hair tests seldom screen for it, but specialized techniques like liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry can identify psilocybin if it is specifically targeted.

The metabolite psilocin travels out of the capillaries in the fingernails, becoming trapped in the keratin fibres, giving a detection window of roughly 6 months. Fingernail samples don't follow the one cm to one-month rule as hair samples do. The detection window for fingernail testing is 3-6 months, but it may take 1-2 weeks for the results to appear.

Numerous factors influence psilocybin detection, although the rapid metabolization into psilocin and removal of the metabolite by the body can make detection tricky for any test other than hair and fingernail tests.

Potency tests

Magic mushrooms are a type of fungi that contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. While magic mushrooms are unlikely to show up on standard drug tests, specialized tests can detect their presence under certain circumstances. The sweat patch test is the least common type of drug test used for detecting magic mushrooms.

The body processes the mushrooms and their compounds relatively quickly, so specific drug tests must take place soon after ingestion to detect any traces of the drug. The chances of detecting magic mushrooms also decrease as more time passes between consumption and testing.

To ensure product safety and determine appropriate dosing, potency tests for psychedelic mushrooms are available. ACS Laboratory and Orange Photonics offer testing services for clients in the psychedelic mushroom industry. Orange Photonics' LightLab 3 Psychedelics (PSY) Analyzer is a high-performance liquid chromatograph that tests the potency of psilocybin, psilocin, and AcO-DMT in psychedelic mushrooms and mushroom-infused products. It provides real-time potency data that can be used for strain hunting, harvest optimization, quality control, R&D, and extraction.

Oregon has introduced draft rules for hallucinogen tests as part of its legal psychedelic program, which includes potency testing to ensure the presence of only Psilocybe Cubensis.

Frequently asked questions