Enter the code provided by the drug checking staff into the field on the homepage. Please note that there may be delays between the time your sample is submitted and when the results become available.
Drug Checking Basics
What is drug checking?
Drug checking is a service that provides people who use drugs with information about the substances they intend to use or have already used, so that they can make informed decisions. Drug checking also helps provide timely information about what is in the drug supply to public health departments.
Confidentiality/Privacy & Legality
Is drug checking confidential?
Yes. Drug checking services do not collect or store any personal information. Any information that is collected is only used to provide results and then destroyed. The only data stored in the database is about the substance itself and cannot be tied to an individual.
What happens with my information?
No personal information is kept by service providers, nor is it entered into our database. The only information we collect and keep is about the substance itself.
Is drug checking legal?
Yes. Drug checking services operate under exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) typically through a UPHNS designation. To learn more, see here.
Harm Reduction
Is my sample safe?
Drug checking can never make a statement of safety. We encourage the use of harm reduction practices to reduce risks, but they cannot be eliminated.
Is my sample pure?
The methods we use to test samples do not determine purity. Due to technological limitations, purity is not able to be determined at community drug checking sites.
Contact your drug checking site using the contact information shown at the bottom of your results.
Site Information
Where can I find a drug checking service?
See our partners page for a list of participating sites, as well as site-finding tools.
Technology & Limitations
What substances cannot be tested?
Drug checking sites cannot test organic substances like cannabis flowers or mushrooms. FTIR technology cannot be used to test blotters, but some sites may have test strips or reagents to test for LSD.
Are the results the same for my whole bag/pill/drug?
Drug checking tests only the piece that we are provided as a sample: this may not be representative of the overall substance. We recommend crushing and mixing your drugs if possible before submitting for testing to ensure the most representative test results possible.
What technologies are used during a drug check?
Depending on where your drugs were checked, you will see results for FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometer), Immunoassay Test Strips, and/or PS-MS (Paper-Spray Mass-Spectrometer) technologies. For more information, see our resources list.
What can these technologies tell us?
What test strips can tell us about a sample:
Can tell us whether or not the target substance, or one of its analogues, is detected
Can detect target substances at low concentrations
What FTIR spectrometry can tell us about a sample:
Best at identifying approximately 5 different components in a mixture
Can detect cutting agents/diluents (e.g., sugars)
What PS-MS can tell us about a sample:
Easily differentiate and identify components in complex mixtures
Provide precise quantitative information down to ~0.05% (w/w)
What do these technologies not tell us?
Limitations of test strips:
Cannot tell us how much, what type, or how many fentanyl/analogues or benzodiazepines are present
Can miss some fentanyl analogues (e.g., carfentanil can be missed in low concentrations) and benzodiazepines (e.g., etizolam)
Limitations of FTIR spectrometry:
Cannot reliably detect substances present in small amounts (less than approximately 5%-10% concentration)
Can have difficulty identifying components in a complex mixture
Can only identify substances that are in our reference libraries
Can have difficulty distinguishing between substances with similar chemical structure (e.g., some fentanyl analogs, some benzodiazepines)
Cannot test organic materials (e.g., cannabis flower, mushrooms)
Cannot quantify components detected
Limitations of PS-MS:
Can only quantify components on the PS-MS target list
Does not automatically screen for compounds not on our target list
Not optimized to quantify high concentration components above 50% (w/w)
Cannot distinguish between optical isomers or salt/base forms of drugs
Not used to provide information on compound purity
Destructive testing process
Requires precise sample preparation – sample must be of sufficient mass and soluble in methanol
Disclaimer
Please note, our drug checking technologies have limitations. To learn more about the limitations of our technology,
click here
Drug checking results, unless submitted through Substance UVic, will be deleted 60 days after date of publication
Drug checking results are only relevant to the person for whom the drug check was performed
