Testing Osiclybin Mushrooms: A Step-By-Step Guide

Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as shrooms, magic mushrooms, or hallucinogenic mushrooms, contain the mind-altering substance psilocybin and its active form, psilocin. Testing for psilocybin typically involves identifying and quantifying the presence of these compounds in a sample. While psilocybin and psilocin are generally metabolised and excreted from the body within 24 hours, they can be detected in hair and fingernail samples for much longer periods, making hair and fingernail drug tests the most effective methods for detecting recent or ongoing psilocybin use. Various specialised tests can also be used to presumptively identify psilocybin and psilocin, including the NARK Psilocybin/Psilocin Reagent test, which is designed for law enforcement. As psilocybin moves towards legalisation in some areas, regulatory standards are being developed to ensure product quality and consumer safety, making potency testing an essential step in ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of psilocybin products.

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Testing methods: HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS

Testing methods for psilocybin mushrooms have evolved to include advanced techniques such as HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS. These methods are crucial for accurate quantification and identification of psilocybin and related compounds, which is essential for forensic analysis and clinical research.

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)

HPLC is a widely used technique for testing psilocybin mushrooms. It involves separating the components of a sample based on their interaction with a stationary phase and a mobile phase. By separating psilocybin from other compounds in the sample, HPLC allows for precise quantification and identification. The process can be enhanced with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) or coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) for even more accurate results.

GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)

GC-MS is another powerful technique that combines gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Gas chromatography separates the components of a mixture, while mass spectrometry provides valuable information about the molecular structure of the compounds. This method offers high sensitivity and specificity in identifying and quantifying psilocybin and related compounds. However, one challenge with GC-MS is that it measures the total psilocin content but does not provide direct information about psilocybin levels.

LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)

LC-MS is a highly sensitive and selective technique that combines liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. It can be enhanced with different ionization techniques, such as electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), to improve the detection of psilocybin and related compounds. LC-MS has been particularly useful in quantifying psilocin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," directly in whole blood samples. This has significant implications for both clinical research and forensic investigations.

Other Considerations

While these advanced testing methods provide accurate results, proper sample preparation techniques, such as extraction and purification, are crucial to ensuring reliable outcomes. Additionally, as technology evolves, laboratories must balance performance, price, and support when adopting new techniques.

Detection times: 6-hour window for urine tests

Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the mind-altering substance psilocybin. Shrooms do not show up on standard urine drug tests, such as the common 5, 8, 10, or 12-panel tests. These tests typically screen for substances like THC, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and opioids, but they do not include psilocybin or its metabolite psilocin.

However, specialised urine tests can detect psilocybin and psilocin. These tests are specifically designed to identify these compounds and may have different detection windows and sensitivity levels. It is important to note that these specialised tests are rarely administered and are not in widespread use.

The detection times for psilocybin and psilocin in urine can vary. It takes about 6 hours for psilocybin to be excreted from the body, while about 75% of psilocin is excreted within 3.5 hours. After 24 hours, both compounds are typically no longer detectable in urine. However, it is important to note that several factors can influence these timings, including dosage, potency of the mushrooms, personal tolerance, and preparation method.

The rapid metabolisation of psilocybin into psilocin and the quick removal of these compounds by the body make detection challenging for urine tests. Most standard drug tests are not designed to detect psilocybin or psilocin, and even specialised tests may need to be performed promptly after ingestion to find any traces of these compounds. Therefore, the 6-hour window for urine tests is crucial for increasing the likelihood of detecting psilocybin and psilocin in the body.

Factors affecting detection times: dosage, potency, type of mushroom, etc

The detection time of psilocybin mushrooms in the body can vary based on several factors. Generally, psilocybin and its metabolite, psilocin, can be detected in urine for up to 24 hours after ingestion. However, in some cases, traces may remain for up to three days. Blood tests can detect psilocybin for around 15 hours after consumption.

• Dosage: A higher dosage may remain in the body for longer, as it takes more time for the body to break it down.
• Potency of the mushrooms: More potent mushrooms may have higher levels of active compounds, causing them to stay in the body for a longer duration. The potency of psilocybin mushrooms varies across different species and even within the same species. Younger, smaller mushrooms tend to have a higher concentration of the drug than larger, mature mushrooms.
• Type of mushrooms: There are various types of hallucinogenic mushrooms, each with its unique composition, which may affect how long it stays in the body.
• Personal tolerance level: Regular or excessive consumption of certain compounds may increase the time they remain in a person's system.
• Preparation method and form: The way in which psilocybin mushrooms are prepared, for example, dried or in tea, may impact their potency and subsequent excretion time.
• Individual factors: A person's metabolism, age, overall health, unique biology, sex, personality, and history of drug use can also influence the detection time.

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Reagents: NARK Psilocybin/Psilocin Reagent

The NARK Psilocybin/Psilocin Reagent is a presumptive field test designed to identify psilocybin, the active ingredient found in mushrooms. It can also be used to identify psilocin, the metabolite of psilocybin. The test comes in disposable tubettes that are easy to handle. When the reagent is exposed to psilocybin, it turns pink, and when exposed to psilocin, it turns purple. It is important to note that the test results are presumptive and must be confirmed by an approved analytical laboratory.

The NARK Psilocybin/Psilocin Reagent is a useful tool for law enforcement to quickly and easily identify the presence of psilocybin and psilocin in the field. However, it is not the only method available for testing these compounds. Other techniques, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), are commonly used for detecting and quantifying psilocybin and psilocin. These methods offer high precision, reliability, and accuracy in identifying and quantifying the compounds.

HPLC is the most widely used method for psilocybin testing due to its precision and reliability. It involves separating the compounds present in the mushroom extract, allowing for accurate quantification of psilocybin and psilocin. GC-MS, on the other hand, combines gas chromatography, which separates the components of a mixture, with mass spectrometry, which provides information about the molecular structure of the compounds. This method is often used to confirm the results obtained from HPLC.

In addition to HPLC and GC-MS, other advanced techniques such as Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can also be used for psilocybin analysis. These techniques offer enhanced resolution, high sensitivity, and selectivity for the identification and quantification of psilocybin and related compounds. Proper sample preparation techniques, such as extraction and purification, are also crucial to ensuring accurate and reliable results in psilocybin testing.

Legality: Class A drug with serious consequences for misuse

The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or no recognized medical uses. The convention requires its members to prohibit psilocybin and restrict its use to medical and scientific research under controlled conditions.

However, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the convention due to pressure from the Mexican government. This has created ambiguity in the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in some countries, with varying degrees of regulation and prohibition. For example, in the United States, psilocybin and psilocin are regulated by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, and the possession and use of psilocybin are prohibited under almost all circumstances, often carrying severe legal penalties.

In the United Kingdom, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 classifies magic mushrooms as a Class A drug, carrying the most serious consequences. Possession of magic mushrooms can result in up to 7 years of imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. The production and supply of these mushrooms can lead to life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or a combination of both.

In contrast, some jurisdictions have made exceptions for specific purposes. For instance, Oregon has legalized the use of "magic mushrooms" for mental health treatment in supervised settings. Similarly, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020, which allows for the possession and non-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms.

It is important to note that the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin mushrooms is evolving, and the regulations mentioned above are subject to change over time.

Frequently asked questions