J Forensic Sci, Jul. 1979, Vol. 24, No. 3

S. H. Johns, 1M.A. ; A. A. Wist, 2M. S. ; and A. R. Najam, 3M. S.

Spot Tests: A Color Chart Reference for Forensic
Chemists

Spot tests, the most common of preliminary screening tests, have been of long-standing
use in forensic analysis. With the advent of technological instrumentation, the importance
of this utilitarian, albeit basic, test procedure has diminished. In the early development of
currently accepted laboratory technique, the spot test (also referred to as the color test)
was often employed as a conclusive method for substance identification. Advanced technology has demonstrated that color tests alone indicate nothing but the possible presence
or absence of a particular molecular grouping. Consequently, the color test must be
considered inconclusive for purposes of positive identification. Thus the main purpose of
the spot test is to narrow the list of substances possibly present in any given unknown.
This paper proposes to consolidate the diverse information that has been compiled concerning the color test and to present it in tabular form to foster more effective use of the
spot test [1]. Table 1 illustrates a series of nine spot tests applied to each of more than 200
compounds. Although not exhaustive, this table may serve to organize pertinent data and
facilitate both manual and computer searches. Each compound has been assigned a
numerical code keyed to the specific spot test. Properly applied, the spot test can provide
a rapid and highly accurate tool for drug screening.

Experimental Procedure
The following procedure represents one of the most simple and most direct methods
commonly used to perform spot tests. It is both effective and time-efficient. The tests
reported herein were conducted by transferring with a capillary tube a small amount of a
primary standard drug, dry, to each of nine wells on a porcelain spot plate. A drop of one
of the seven solutions, whose formulations are given in the following section, was then
deposited in each of the first seven wells (for example, Marquis reagent was placed in the
first well, Mecke reagent in the second, and so forth). Concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid were used as the reagents for Wells 8 and 9, respectively. The colors
observed during a 5-min period were then recorded in Table 1.

Def'mitions and Reagent Formulations
The drug standards used for the tests reported in Table 1 were obtained from the sources
listed in the Appendix. The number in parentheses after each compound in Table 1 corresponds to the numbered drug source in the Appendix.
Received for publication 4 Aug. 1978; revised manuscript received 28 Dec. 1978; accepted for publication 29 Dec. 1978.
1Forensic scientist, Illinois Department of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Scientific Services, Pekin,
Ill.
2Forensic scientist, Illinois Department of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Scientific Services,
DeSoto, Ill.
3Forensic chemist, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Ft. Gordon, Ga.
631
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Copyright © 1979 by ASTM International

www.astm.org

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1--Drug spot tests.

TABLE

Compound (Source)
Aeetaminophen (34)
Aeetophenazine maleate (40)
Adiphenine hydroehloride (9)
Akineton hydrochloride (23)
Allobarbitat (3)
Mlylisobutylbarbit uric acid
(butalbital) (4)
~lphaprodine hydrochloride
(41)

Marquis
...
yellow/brown
-- red
yellow/orange
orange
red ~ brown

red

Alphenal (allylphenylbarbiturie acid) (3)
Aminoglutethimide (9)
Aminophylline (10)

Amisometradine (44)
Amitfiptyline hydrochloride
(31)
Amodiaquin hydroehloride
(35)
d./-Amphetamine sulfate (22)

red -- brown

Atropine sulfate (22)
Azapetine (41)
Barbital (16)

red/brown

.
green

yellow

d a r k olive

blue

dark r e d / b r o w n

red/brown
. . .

yellow" ~ olive
green

.

(effervescence)
yellow/olive -lime

.

.

blue

9

green ~ blue/
green

.

.

.

.

.

blue
brown

.

.

.

.

.

.

faint yellow

.

.

.

.

red/brown

...
yellow/brown
.

.

.

.

Nitric Acid
yellow/orange
brown -- faint
yellow/green
. .

orange/brown

. ..

orange-red -brown
...

...

...
.

.

.

.

.

(effervescence)
-- r e d / b l a c k

violet
violet
D K 1: g r e e n /
brown; D K 2 :
violet

D K 1 : green

olive/green

slight yellow
developing pale
yellow
violet
violet (fades
immediately)

blue
developing light
blue

Sulfuric Aeid

...

blue (precipitate)
blue

...

olive brown -brown

.

...

green -(precipitate)
...

green
9

.

Freehde's

.
.

violet
.

olive green -brown
olive -- brown

.

.

blue (oil)

red -- brown

.

.

.

green/brown

green

.

Hydrochloric
Acid Plus
Ehrlieh's

Dille-Koppanyi
(DK t/DK2)

.
.
violet

developing bright
yellow

slight yellow
developing faint
yellow

developing
orange/brown
developing
violet -- blue

.

.

developing blue
threads

orange -brown

developing red

Mandelin
olive green
green

olive

Anisotropine methylbromide
05)
Antipyrine (4)
Aprobarbital (33)
Aspirin

Meeke

Cobalt
Thiocyanate

O~
GO

faint blue
violet

yellow ~ orange

C
2O
Z
3~
I'O
-11
O
2O
m
Z
6o
O
03
O
[31
Z
('3
m
03

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Benactyzine hydrochloride (1)
Benoxinate hydrochlodde (11)
Benzilonium bromide (35)

Benzocaine   (ethyl
aminobenzoate) (33)
Benzphetamine hydrochloride
(50)

Benzqninamide (38)
Benztroptne mesylate (31)
Betametbasone (43)

orange -- brown

green -- dark
blue
(effervescence)
yellow -- green
-- dark blue

(effervescence)
orange/brown -olive

Bromural   (bromisovalum)
(23)
Bufotenine (2)

orange -brown

(effervescence)
developing
yellow
yellow -- green
yellow/orange
developing black

(effervescence)
developing
green
olive green
yellow/orange
olive -- dark
brown

(effervescence)

(effervescence)
orange/brown

yellow -orange

yellow - orange

orange

light brown

brown - black/
purple

green -- brown/
green

yellow/orange
orange ~ red/
brown -chocolate

Butabarbital (33)
Butaeaine sulfate (1)
Butalbital (42)
Butethal (3)
Caffeine (4)
Carbinoxamine maleate (28)
Carbromal (35)
Carisoprodol (53)
Carphenazine maleate (56)
Chloral betaine (29)
Chloral hydrate (30)
Chlordiazepoxide
hydrochloride (20)

Chloromycetin  
(chloramphenicol) (35)

blue (precipitate)
blue (oil)
blue

brown

Bethanechol chloride (31)
Bromodiphenhydramine
hydrochloride (35)

yellow/orange
green/brown
(effervescence)
orange ~ olive
green and
brown

orange ~ dark
brown/red "

yellow -orange -- pink

orange -brown

yellow/orange

yellow
(effervescence)

blue

yellow/green
yellow/orange
red/brown

developing blue
blue

yellow/green

blue (precipitate)

yellow -- brown
yellow/orange
developing
brown

(effervescence)
black

(effervescence)

yellow -orange

yellow -orange

red ~ brown
yellow/brown
brown/blue

yellow/brown

violet
olive -- brown

blue (oil)

blue (precipitate
and oil)

brown

red

brown -- green

(developing) green

(effervescence)

(effervescence)

(effervescence)

(effervescence)

(effervescence)
light yellow

(effervescence)
light yellow

(effervescence)
yellow -- red/
brown

.

.

.

.

.

.
.
.
faint
orange

.

.

red/brown

yellow/brown

violet

.

dark brown/black

t'-

(effervescence)
light yellow

.

developing black
spots

"l:w
O~
m

yellow
violet
violet

.

yellow -- brown
yellow

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"13
0

(effervescence)

m

(eftervescence)
light yellow

O~

.

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TABLE 1--Continued.

O)
4~

Compound (Source)

Marquis

Mecke

Mandelin

Cobalt

Dille-Koppanyi

Hydrochloric
Acid Plus

Thiocyanate

(DK l/DK2)

Ehrlich's

Froehde's

Sulfuric Acid

N i t r i c Acid

Chloroproeaine
h y d r o c h l o r i d e (37)

.

C h l o r o t b i a z i d e (31)

.

Cblorpheniramine maleate
(46)

.

Chlorphentermine
h y d r o e h l o r i d e (54)

.

Cblorpromazine
h y d r o c h l o r i d e (46)

C h l o r z o x a z o n e (28)
Cinehocaine   hydroehloride

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

orange/brown

.

.

.
.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

blue

...

.
blue

.

l i g h t yellow

O
"11

violet

faint green

"11
O

999
.

.

.

.

.

m
Z
Co

.

O
pink

C h l o r p r o p a m i d e (38)
C b l o r p r o t b i x e n e (41)

.

red -- green
.

red -

.

.

.

orange
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

red/orange
brown
.
.
.

.

-.

blue
.

red

pink

r e d - - yellow

red--orange

orange

orange

red

orange -- light
pink
yellow

f a i n t yellow

yellow

orange -brown
yellow

...

.

.

red ~ orange

red -- orange

.

.

olive

...

.
.

.

.

.

.
violet

(dibucaine hydrochloride)

(9)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

blue (precipitate)

C l i d i n i u m b r o m i d e (45)

orange -- deep

orange -- brown

orange -- deep

C l o r a z e p a t e d i p o t a s s i u m (1)
C I o r t e r m i n e (52)

green -- blue
yellow
orange

-- green
yellow
.
.

green ~ blue
...
.
.
.
.
.

C o c a i n e (30)
C o c a i n e h y d r o e h l o r i d e (30)
C o d e i n e p h o s p h a t e (36)

.
.
.
.
brown --

C o d e i n e sulfate (36)

purple
purple

blue green
bright green -blue green

C y e l o m e t h y c a i n e s u l f a t e (26)

slight orange

slight orange/

olive g r e e n

...

.
.

.
.

.

.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
bright green ~

.
.

...

...
blue (precipitate)

yellow

olive

blue
blue (precipitate)
blue

green -- blue

...

orange

olive

blue

green -- blue

...

yellow/orange

...

brown
Cyclopentamine
h y d r o c h l o r i d e (26)
C y c f i m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e (26)
Cyproheptadine hydroebloride
(31)
D e b r i s o q u i n e s u l f a t e (41)

C
~0
Z
~>
r'-

orange -- red

yellow - - b r o w n

red/brown

...

orange/brown

purple -- dark
brown
orange -brown

purple -- dark
brown
.. . .

purple -- dark
brown

.,.

purple ~ dark
brown

.

.

blue

d a r k p u r p l e -dark brown

l i g h t yellow

Go
(3
m
Z
(3
m
Go

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Deserpidine (1)

purple

Desipramine (24)
Dexamethasone (31)
Dexbrompheniramine
maleate (43)
Diazepam (4)
Didrate   (dihydrocodeine) (4)
Diethylpropion hydrochloride
( a m f e p r a m o n e ) (32)
N,N-Diethyltryptamine
oxalate (DET) (22)

Dimethoxyamphetamine
(DMA) (12)
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
( D M T ) (40)
Diphenhydramine
hydrochloride (4)
Dipbenidol hydroehloride (46)
Diphenylhydantoin
(phenytoin) (4)
Droperidol (28)
Ephedrine sulfate (33)
Ergotamine tartrate (2)
Ethinamate (21)
Ethionamide (4)
Ethylmorphine hydroehloride

(4)
Ethylnoradrenaline
hydrochloride
(ethylnorepinephrine) (48)
Fenfluramioe hydrochloride
(39)
Fentanyl citrate (28)

9

dark green

dark green

light blue

purple/blue
blue (precipitate
a n d oil)

.

slight violet

.

.

yellow/green
.

.

.

green -- o r a n g e /
yellow
dark blue

...
...
,..
purple

blue (oil)
green/blue

slight green

..,

..

yellow

blue (oil)

yellow -- yellow
green

yellow -- green/
black -brown/green

brown

yellow/green

yellow -- green
red/brown

yellow ~ green
-- brown

yellow ~ green
brown

green/yellow -green -- brown

green ~ brown

green/blue

yellow/orange
-- brown
orange/brown

yellow

brown

blue (oil)

red/brown

olive

blue

...
pink

yellow

blue (precipitate)

very pale yellow

very pale yellow

light yellow

very pale yellow

very pale yellow

deep b r o w n /
yellow

9

yellow/orange

yellow/orange

..

yellow -- green

yellow

rose -- b r o w n /
violet

slight violet
...

, ..
tan -- brown -- green/black
black
red
red -- brown
. . . . . .

...

pale yellow

olive -- brown
faint blue
dark green

orange

yellow

red ~ brown
light b l u e / g r e e n

red

red

slight green/
yellow

purple

blue/green

green

orange
brown

red/brown

olive

,.,
orange
brown

slow orange
...

..,
green

purple

red/brown

orange

black

blue

9

olive/black

...

yellow

yellow/orange

-IZ
60
I'n
-4
I'GO
"O
O
-4
-4
I'D
GO
-4
GO
03
r

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TABLE 1--Continued.

Compound ISource)

F l u r a z e p a m dihydrochloride
(41)
Furazolidone (14)
G l u t e t h i m i d e (4)
Haloperidol (28)
H a r m a l i n e (22)

Marquis

Mecke

red -- purple
.
.
.
dark red
.
.
.

Hydroehlorothiazide (46)
Hydrocodone b i t a r t r a t e (4)
ttydrollazine hydrochlorlde
(9)

. . . .
red -- purple

Hydroxyamphetamine
hydrobromide (46)
Hydro•
hydrochloride
(38)
Hydroxyzine dihydrochloride
(38)
Hyoscyamine sulfate (46)
lbogaiue (12)

(effervescence)
brown

lprindole (56)

Isaearboxazid

(41)

Isoniazid (47)
lsopropamide iodide (46)
Levorphanol t a r t r a t e (41)

Mandelin

Dilie-Koppanyi

Hydrocblorie
Acid plus

(DK 1/DK 2)

Ehrlicb's

Froebde's

Sulfuric Acid

Nitric Acid

C
213
Z
I"-

developing pink
.
.
orange
orange
red/brown

Heroin hydrochloride (12)
Hexobarbital (3)
tlexocyclium methylsulfate (1)
Hexyleaine hydroehloride (33)
H o m a t r o p i n e hydrobromide
(27)

Indole (13)

Cobalt
Tblocyanate

r

...
.
.
.
orange
red/brown
olive/brown

green/blue
.
.
.
.
yellow -- green
.
.
.
.
.

...

.

.

.

.

yellow

slight brown

.
dark blue

green
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

...
..

slight blue
(precipitate)
. ..
.
.
.
.

...

.

brown/orange

blue (oil)

...

. . . . . .
. . . . . .
deep purple -yellow - green
dark oli,~e -~ purple
yellow
orange/brown
green

orange
slight brown
brown ~ black

blue (oil)
blue
pale blue

...
...
...

. . .
. . .
...
purple
gray/black

brown/yellow
green
green
green
olive

.

.
.

.

.
.

.
.
brown
brown
slight g r a y / b l a c k

red/brown

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.
.

.
.

.
orange
.
.
.
orange/bt~wn
olive

.

.
bright yellow
with ehloric
acid

.
.

O
"11

.

yellow

orange
.
orange/brown

orange/brown

-

.

.

.

rn
Z
O
rrl
03

orange

.

blue
...
rose (precipitate)
. . . . .
blue (precipitate)

black with D K 1
blue -- green

(eftervescence)

yellow

light green

yellow

pale yellow

deep yellow

orange

green

light yellow -brown
brown

red/brown

.

.
...
brown
brown
.
...

.

.

yellow
. .
9

.

.

.

.

.

.
.
purple
blue

O
33
m
7"
O~
f3

yello,~/brown

blue violet

black (precipitate)
.

.

.

.

orange

.

.

.

purple

blue
blue

.

.

.
violet

(effervescence)
olive

.

.

olive
.
.
.
.
green -- blue

.

.

.

.

.

blue (precipitate)
.
.
.
.
.
blue
violet
.
.
.
.
. . . . . .

(effervescence)
orange/brown

.

.

.

slight brown
.
.
.
orange
green
olive/brown

.

.

.

.
.
.
.
purple/black
. ..

yellow
.
red/bro,.~n
yellow

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Lysergie acid (4)
Lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD) (42)
Mazindol (42)
Mebutamate (53)
Meelizine hydroehloride (38)
Mefenamie acid (36)
Mepenzolate bromide (24)

Meperidine hydrochloride (4)

Mephentermine sulfate (56)
Meprobamate (4)
Mescaline hydroehloride (2)
Methadone (7)
Methamphetamine
hydroehloride (2)

dark purple/
black

dark blue/black

. . . . . .
orange
orange
. . . . . .
slight yellow
slight yellow
yellow
dark blue
orange -orange -- brown
brown --- green
green -- blue
yellow -...
orange -brown
orange -...
red/brown
. . . . . .
orange
yellow
red
green/brown
orange -brown

. ..

olive

purple

olive

olive

orange

orange

orange

green
olive
orange -- brown
--green

slight yellow

slight yellow

orange/brown

orange

dark green
light yellow

slight yellow

brown

red

orange/brown

orange

orange

yellow
yellow

light yellow
yellow

light yellow

brown/orange

purple

blue

green
yellow
green -- brown
blue
light green

blue

Methaqualone hydrochloride

(4)

.

.

.

Metharbital (33)
Methenamine mandelate (54)
Methimazole (26)

. . . .
yellow/orange
...

.

.

Uethixene hydroehloride (11)
Methohexital sodium (33)
Methscopolamine bromide
(49)
Methyclothiazide (1)
Methylenedimethoxymethamphetamine
( M D M A ) (12)

brown
yellow/brown

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) (i2)

.

.

.

. .
yellow

.

.

.

slight orange
(precipitate)
violet

, ..
yellow

brown
light blue/green

orange/brown
yellow/brown

orange
green

D K t : green;
D K : : blue
violet

m

.
brown

yellow

blue -- purple
-- black

green -- dark
blue

blue -- dark
purple -- black

yellow/green
- - d a r k blue

red/purple

light yellow

purple

green -- blue

red -- purple

green -- olive
-- blue

purple

light yellow

yellow/green

yellow/brown

brown

blue
violet

Methylergonovine maleate
(42)
Methylphenidate (9)

black
.

.

.

.

blue green -black
. .

olive -- black

violet
blue (oil)

"I"
Z

F

0
m
5o
5o

O)
CO
-,q

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C o m p o u n d (Source)
a - M e t h y l t r y p t a m i n e (2)
Methyprylon (20)
Methysergide rnaleate (42)
M o r p h i n e base (36)
Morphine hydroehloride (30)
Nalorphine (4)
Nalorphine hydroehloride (30)
Naloxone (53)
Naphazoline hydrochloride (9)
N i t r a z e p a m (41)
Nortriptyline hydrochloride
(26)
Oetin   m u c a t e
(isometheptene) (23)
O p i u m (30)
O x a z e p a m (56)
Oxyeodone hydroehloride (15)
Oxymetazoline hydrochloride
(43)
Oxymorphone hydrochloride
(15)
Oxyphencyclimine
hydrochloride (38)
Oxyphenonium bromide (9)
Papaverine hydrochloride (4)
Paramethoxyamphetamine
( P M A ) (12)

Peganone   (ethotoin) (1)

Marquis

Mecke

blue
. . . . . .
d a r k blue
green
purple
blue/green
red -- purple
green
purple
green
purple
green
red
gray/blue
d a r k green -brown
blue
.
.
.
.
.
.

Cobalt
Thioeyanate

Mandelin

green

light brown
blue/green
red/brown
olive
olive
olive
olive
slight brown
olive
.

.

.

.

.

.

red/brown

light yellow
brown -purple
yellow
yellow ~
purple

light yellow
green

light green
.
.

yellow
yellow ~ olive
green

olive
yellow -- green

brown

brown

olive

r e d / b r o w n -purple

yellow ~ brown

black

...

orange -brown
.. ,
red

orange

.

.

yellow -- brown
dark green

olive -- brigh~
green
olive
olive

.

.

(effervescence)

lime/green

.

.

.

.

red/violet
.
.
.
purple

.

blue
.
.

(effervescence)
green ~ r e d /
brown
brown

.

.

.

.

.
.
.

.
.

.

.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.

.
.

.
.

.

.

.
.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.

blue

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.
.

.

.
.
.
.

.
.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

yellow

.

yellow
orange/brow n
orange/brown
red/orange
red/orange
yellow
. .

.
,..

.
.

yellow
yellow/brown

yellow
. ..

yellow
yellow

green ~ dark
blue

d a r k blue

brown ~ yello~

royal blue -purple

yellow

orange

light yellow
green
.

.

dark brown

orange

.

.

Nitric Acid

red/orange

.

.
.

.

.
.

...

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

red/brown

violet

.

.

yellow
.

.

.

.

.

.

blue

.

.

.

Sulfuric Acid

slight yellow
slight yellow
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . .
purple
...
purple
...
purple
...
purple
. ..
purple
...
brown
. . . .

.

...
.,.
...
...
.

.

Froehde's

.
.

yellow

red/brown

.

Hydrochloric
Acid Plus
Ehrlieh's

DiUe-Koppanyi
( D K 1 / D K 2)

light brown
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
blue (precipitate)
slight violet
blue
slight violet
,,,
slight violet
blue
blue

red/brown

.

O~
CO
GO

1--Continued.

TABLE

.

.

.

.

. ..
...
.

.

...

.

.

.

.

.

yellow
yellow

.

.

.

.

.

t:D
Z
>
[-O
"1]
"11
O
20
m
Z
f.h
O~
['n
Z
f3
m
GO

 Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Apr 13 11:13:07 EDT 2016
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Pentazoeine (33)
Pentobarbital sodium (22)
Pereodan ~ (oxyeodone) (15)
Phenaeemide ( 1)
Phenaeetln (aeetophenetidin)
(4)
Phenazocine hydrobromide
(4)

red -- purple
.
.
.
dark pink
brown/yellow
.

.

.

.

.

.

gray -- dark
brown

Phencyclidine hydroehloride
(PCP) (4)

...

purple
.
.
.
pale yellow
...

.

olive
.
pea/green
blue green

. ..

yellow/orange

olive

olive

...

yellow

light yellow

light green

Phentermine base (37)
Phentermine resin (37)
Phenylephrine hydrochloride
(46)

orange
orange

faint orange
.
.

orange

orange/brown

green

slight yellow

slight yellow

brown

(46)

.

.

.

...

red

Piperiodolate (24)
Piperoeaine hydroehloride
(26)
Priloeaine hydrochloride (5)
Primidone (primaelone) (4)
Probeneeid (4)
Proeainamide (47)
Procaine hydroehloride (3)
Prochlorperazine dimaleate

.

.

...
light green
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.

yellow
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
. . .

.
.

.
olive
green
.
.
.
.
.

blue
blue

.

.
.

slight purple
yellow/green

...

blue
blue (oil)
.
.

.
.

dark green brown
olive
.
.
.
.

orange -orange -- olive
yellow -- blue
orange
pale yellow
. . . . . .
pink

...
...

olive

.
.
.
orange
purple - black
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Pipenzolate bromide (24)

violet

.

Phendimetrazine tartrate (6)
Phenelzine sulfate (56)
Pbenindamine tartrate (41)
Pheniramine maleate (22)
Phenmetrazine (17)
Phenobarbital (27)
Phenoxybenzamine
hydrochloride (46)

Phenylpropanolamine
hydrochloride (46)

yellow

blue

...
blue

.
.

.

orange ~ brown
-- green
green
orange ~ brown
(precipitate)
red ~ orange
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
orange
orange

yellow/orange

light yellow

violet
blue

green

blue

brown

brown

.
bright blue

..

yellow

...
orange -brown

blue

orange

yellow
-r
7,

..
blue
light blue

m
--4
light blue
r-

.
.
blue
blue

yellow
yellow
orange

red

red

red.

blue

Promazine hydrochloride (56)

red -- orange

green

orange -- olive

Promethazine hydroehloride
(56)

pink

red -- dark green

red/brown -green

Co
"o
0
-4
pink

pink

blue

green -- red
brown

light orange

red -- brown -yellow
yellow -- brown

blue

red

red

red - yellow

ITI
60
.--t
O~

r
(D

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1--Continued.

TABLE

O~
O
Hydrochloric

Compour~d ( S o u r c e )

Marquis

Mecke

Mandelin

Cobalt

Dille-Koppanyi

Acid P l u s

Thiocyanate

( D K 1 / D K 2)

Ehrlich's

P r o p a n t h e l i n e b r o m i d e (43)

green -- blue

yellow - - o r a n g e /
brown

orange/brown

blue

d-Propoxyphene
h y d r o e h l o r i d e (26)

purple

red/brown

brown/purple

blue

.

Protriptyline hydrochloride
(31)

g r e e n arid b l a c k

red/brown

olive/brown

blue

...

Pseudoephedrine
h y d r o c h l o r i d e (33)

light brown

brown

...

light green

Psilocybin (12)

brown

green

green

...

blue

Psiloeyn (psilocin) (12)

light green --

green

dark green/brown

blue

Q u i n a c r i n e (4)

olive
yellow -orange --

o r a n g e / g r e e n -green/brown

black
dark green -green/brown

green

.

rust
light green

l i g h t yellow
clark b l a c k

light green
olive

blue

brown

blue

Q u i n i d i n e g l u e o n a t e (10)
Q u i n i n e s u l f a t e (16)
R a u w o l f i a s e r p e n t i n a (46)
Ravoeaine   hydrochloride
(propoxycaine
h y d r o c h l o r i d e ) (48)
R e s e r p i n e (46)

yellow
. .

l i g h t yellow

(18)
S e c o b a r b i t a l (22)

.,.
.
.

S p a r t e i n e sulfate (6)
STP (4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxy-

.

S u l f a d i a z i n e (46)
S u l f a e t h y l t b i a d i a z o l e (46)
S u l f a m e t h o x a z o l e (41)

...

green -- brown
.

S t r y c h n i n e sulfate (45)

.

l i g h t yellow
brown

Salicylamide (55)
Scopolamine hydrobromide

a m p h e t a m i n e , JB 238) (12)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

yellow -- g r e e n --

red brown
. . . .
.

.

.

...
.

.

.
light/yellow
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.
.

.

.
.

.

.
.

.

.

.

yellow/brown

yellow/brown

purple/brown

light pink

purple/brown

olive/brown

.

blue

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

purple -- red/

.

.

.

violet -- o r a n g e
brown

.

(precipitate)
.
.
.
.
brown

...

.

.

.

C
2O
Z
r-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

olive g r e e n

yellow -orange

l i g h t yellow
black

l i g h t yellow
dark brown

blue green

.

.

(precipitate)

.

.
.

.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

orange/brown

yellow

l i g h t yellow
green -- red
brown

yellow/green

green particles

yellow
.

.
yellow/green

.

yellow

.

.

.

.

yellow

...

violet
violet

yellow
yellow

...
...

t'3
m
Z
t')
m
O'J
m

.

.

.

"11
O
20
m
Z
r
O

, ..

.
.

orange

...

.

.

.

.

.
.
. . .

brown/yellow

.

yellow/green
.

N i t r i c Acid

green

yellow

.
.

.

.

.

violet

.

.

light brown

blue

yellow/green

.

yellow

.

.

.

g r e e n -- p u r p l e

...

.

.

.

.

olive/brown

.

.

purple

.

.

.

pale yellow - -

.

.

.

.

yellow

olive g r e e n

.

.

..,

b l u e -- g r e e n

yellow
.
.

.

yellow/brown

Sulfiaric A c i d

tD
"11

...

.

..

Froehde~s

 Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Apr 13 11:13:07 EDT 2016
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Sulfamethoxydiazine (39)
Sulfapyridine (4)
Tandearil   (oxyphenbutazone)
(9)
Tegretol   (carbamazepine) (9)
Tetracycline hydrochloride
(45)
Tetrahydrozoline
hydrochloride (38)
Thebaine (4)
Theophylline (22)
Thiabendazole (31)
Thiophene analog of PCP
(TCP) (12)

Thiopropazate hydrochloride
(44)
Thioridazine hydrochloride
(31)
Thiothixene (38)
Tofranil   (imipramine) (9)
Tranylcyprornine sulfate (46)
Trifluoperazine
dihydroehloride (46)
Trimeprazine tartrate (46)
Trimethadione (1)
Trimethaphan eamsylate (41)
Trimethoxyamphetamine
(TMA) (12)
Trimipramine maleate (21)
Tripelennamine hydrochloride
(28)
Tryptamine hydrochloride
(13)
Tuaminoheptane sulfate (26)
Tybamate (53)

...
...

...

brown spots

light brown

yellow
yellow

orange/brown
olive

light green
light yellow

red ~ yellow

black -- green/
black

red

light blue

orange
red/brown
...
...

green/brown
brown

green
red/brown

blue
blue

light yellow
gray

yellow ~ dark
green ~ blue
green

pink

green

yellow

blue
brown

orange/brown

yellow

violet

green/blue
purple
(effervescence)
(effervescence)
orange
orange
...
red/brown
light green/blue

red/green

blue

pink

red

pink

yellow

dark brown/green

blue

light green

dark purple

green/blue

red/purple

light orange

orange

orange

red

brown
orange

orange
pink

brown/yellow
brown/yellow

orange
brown

blue

orange -- green
orange -- olive

blue
blue

light orange
pink
...
green/blue

orange -- green
red ~ olive green

orange

lime green -brown green
light blue

olive/green

brown ~ red/
brown

brown

brown

yellow
...
...

red/brown

light green
light brown

...

yellow
yellow

I
Z

blue

m

brown/green

r-

light brown
blue (oil)

pale blue

olive green

pale yellow

violet

light green

light yellow

-D
0

yellow

m
-4

O~
_.t

 642

JOURNALOF FORENSIC SCIENCES

For the Marquis reagent [2-8], add eight to ten drops of 40% formaldehyde solution to
10 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid.
For the Mecke reagent [2,5-8], dissolve 0.25 g of selenious acid in 25 ml of concentrated
sulfuric acid.
For the Mandelin reagent [2,4,6-8], dissolve 1 g of ammonium vanadate in 100 ml of
concentrated sulfuric acid.
For the cobalt thiocyanate reagent [2-4, 7], dissolve 2 g of cobalt thiocyanate in 100 ml
of methanol.
The Dille-Koppanyi reagent [2-4, 7] consists of two solutions. For the first, dissolve 0.1
g of cobaltous acetate in 100 ml of methanol, and for the second, add 5 ml of isopropylamine to 95 ml of methanol.
For the Ehrlich's reagent [5], add 5 g of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde to 100 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid.
For the Froehde's reagent [2, 6-8], dissolve 50 mg of sodium molybdate in 10 ml of hot
concentrated sulfuric acid.
These seven reagents were chosen for the following reasons:
1. They are effective in detecting drugs in the major groups of interest to the forensic
chemist (such as narcotics, stimulants, barbiturates, and hallucinogens).
2. The reagents, though selective, are not so specific that they will react with only a
very few given compounds.
3. If the class of compounds with which a given reagent would react was very large
(such as narcotics), several different reagents were chosen for that class, with the expectation that each reagent would produce a different color in reaction with a given drug. The
object was to collect as many different data points as possible for each drug.
4. The Marquis, Mecke, Mandelin, and Froehde's reagents each contain sulfuric acid
as the solvent. Since a multitude of reactions (such as esterification, oxidation, dehydration, and hydrolysis) are fostered by sulfuric acid, this solvent was chosen as one of the
nine reagents [5]. By using sulfuric acid as a control, the behavior of a given substance in
the acid was determinable. One drop of concentrated hydrochloric acid preceded the addition of the Ehrlich's reagent to each sampte for the same reason, that is, as a control.
Nitric acid, which is not used as a solvent in any of the given reagents, was chosen as a
third acid control.
Color-Coded Directories

For wider application and easy reference, the color test chart (Table 1) is numerically
coded. Each color is assigned a digit according to the following key:
Digit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0

Color
red
orange
yellow
green
blue
violet
purple
brown
black
no reaction

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Apr 13 11:13:07 EDT 2016
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 JOHNS ET AL ~ SPOT TESTS

643

The digit assigned is based on the final color obtained after 5 min regardless of the color
transitions that the reaction may have undergone. The order of the nine digits in the color
code for a drug corresponds to the order in which the tests were performed and listed in
Table 1. As an example, the coding of d,/-amphetamine sulfate is shown below:
Marquis
Mecke
Mandelin
cobalt thiocyanate
Dille-Koppanyi
Ehrlich's
Froehde's
sulfuric acid
nitric acid

orange-brown
...
green
...
...
...
...
...
...

8
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0

There is always a certain amount of subjectivity that must be taken into account when a
color is reported. It is not uncommon for two analysts to describe the same color differently. Aside from the differences in reporting colors that can be attributed to the analysts,
colors can also be influenced by the concentration of the solvent or solute or by the
presence of contaminants. Also, the length of time during which the colors are observed
may influence the color reported because color transitions and instabilities are not
unusual. Allowances should therefore be made for these differences, especially with street
samples, where neither the concentration of the drug nor the presence or composition of
any contaminant is known [8].
Two coded directories have been included in this paper. Table 2 presents the drugs
arranged alphabetically, whereas Table 3 lists them according to numerical code. Table 3
is useful in obtaining information about what compounds give similar color reactions. Since
the coded colors do not reflect color transitions, it is possible for two identically coded
drugs to be distinguished by reference to the spot test results in Table 1. Being that subjectivity is inherent in the color reported, subjectivity also exists in the numerical codes.
When any of the tables are used, alternatives should be considered.
TABLE 2--Alphabetically arranged drugs with color codes.
Drug
Acetaminophen
Acetophenazine
Adiphenine
Akineton
Allobarbital
Allylisobutylbarbiturieacid
Alphaprodine
AIphenal
Aminoglutethimide
AminophyUine
Amisometradine
Amitriptyline
Amodiaquin
d,/-Amphetamine
Anisotropine
Antipyrine
Aprobarbital
Aspirin
Atropine

Code
004000502
184400884
239500300
888000880
000060000
000060000
144500900
000060000
000060000
000860000
000000000
888500080
048440402
804000000
030500300
034500030
000060000
104060000
000500000

Drug
Azapetine
Barbital
Benactyzine
Benoxinate
Benzilonium
Benzoeaine
 
Benzphetamine
Benzquinamide
Benztropine
Betamethasone
Bethaneehol
Bromodiphenhydramine
Bromural 
Bufotenine
Butabarbital
Butaeaine
Butalbital
Butethal
Caffeine

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Apr 13 11:13:07 EDT 2016
Downloaded/printed by
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Code
508550000
000060000
588500810
000500008
548500823
008003000
834500000
044500408
222500220
898000880
008004909
222500220
000000000
874005889
000060000
008503000
000060000
000060000
000000000

 644

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

TABLE 2--Continued.
Drug
Carbinoxamine
Carbromal
Carisoprodol
Carphenazine
Chloral betaine
Chloral hydrate
Chlordiazepoxide
Chloromycetin 
Chloroprocaine
Chlorothiazide
Chlorpheniraminr
Chlorphentermine
Chlorpromazine
Chlorpropamide
Chlorprothixene
Chlorzoxazone
Cinehocaine 
Clidinium
Clorazepate
C]ortermine
Cocaine
Codeine phosphate
Codeine sulfate
Cyclomethycaine
Cyclopentamine
Cycrimine
Cyproheptadine
Debrisoquine
Deserpidine
Desipramine
Dexamethasone
Dexbrompheniramine
Diazepam
Didrate 
Diethylpropion
N,N-Diethyltrypramine
(DET)
Dimethoxyamphetamine
(DMA)
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
(DMT)
Diphenhydramine
Diphenidol
Diphenylhydantoin
Droperidol
Ephedrine
Ergotamine
Ethinamate
Ethionamide
Ethylmorphine
Ethylnoradrenaline
Fenfluramine
Fentanyl
Flurazepam
Furazolidone
Glutethimide
Haloperidol
Harmaline
Heroin

Code
000500000
000000000
000000000
814400880
000000000
000060000
338000330
002000000
002503000
000060000
000500000
004000000
148500113
000000000
222002221
004060000
000500000
545000813
330503333
200000000
000500000
744500502
744500502
284000000
000000000
188000800
888000883
800500000
744000543
050560005
000000000
000500000
000000000
754500303
000500000
448501333
488000000
888507333
838500220
884000430
000060003
108000000
000500000
994007238
188000110
004080002
744000300
884090932
020500000
804000000
108500000
000000000
222560223
284000000
888003488
754000780

Drug

Code

Hexobarbital
000060000
Hexocyclium
145500200
Hexyleaine
000500000
Homatropine
038500003
Hydrochlorothiazide
004060000
Hydrocodone
750000000
Hydrollazine
002990000
Hydroxyamphetamine
884000403
Hydroxyzine
003500000
Hyoscyamine
008500000
Ibogaine
479504333
Indole
848002488
Iprindole
003500083
Isoearboxazid
004080000
Isoniazid
084183000
Isopropamide
784000798
Levorphanol
994500503
Lysergie acid
994007442
Lysergie acid diethylamide
(LSD)
000007000
Mazindol
222000220
Mebutamate
000000000
Meclizine
334000330
M e f e n a m iacid
c
354000004
Mepenzolate
548000823
Meperdine
800500000
Mephentermine
804000000
Meprobamate
000003000
Mescaline
288000331
Methadone
105500000
Methamphetamine
804500000
Methaqualone
002000000
Metharbital
000060000
Methenamine
208000000
Methimazole
034050000
Methixene
882000822
Methohexital
884060000
Methscopolamine
000500333
Methyelothiazide
383060330
Methylenedimethoxymethamphetine (MDMA)
959000573
Methylenedioxyamphetamine
(MDA)
757000573
Methylergonovine
999006488
Methylphenidate
000500000
c~-Methyltryptamine
458806338
Methyprylon
004000000
Methysergide
548007003
Morphine
744000708
Nalorphine
744560702
Nalorphine hydrochloride
744560702
Naloxone
158060703
Naphazoline
584550800
Nitrazepam
000030000
Nortriptyline
888500820
Oetin 
334000000
Opium
840000733
Oxazepam
334003333
Oxyeodone
744000803

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 JOHNS

ET AL

9 SPOT TESTS

645

TABLE 2--Continued.
Drug
Oxymetazoline
Oxymorphone
Oxyphencyclimine
Oxyphenonium
Papaverine
Paramethoxyamphetamine
(PMA)
Peganone  
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Percodan  
Phenacemide
Phenacetin
Phenazocine
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Phendimetrazine
Phenelzine
Phenindamine
Pheniramine
Phenmetrazine
Phenobarbital
Phenoxybenzamine
Phentermine base
Phentermine resin
Phenylephrine
Phenylpropanolamine
Pipenzolate
Piperidolate
Piperocaine
Prilocaine
Primidone
Probenecid
Procainamide
Procaine
Prochlorperazine
Promazine
Promethazine
Propantheline
d-Propoxyphene
Protriptyline
Pseudoephedrine
Psilocybin
Psilocyn

Code

Drug

Code

884500553
789060732
824000020
084500303
144000403

Quinacrine
Quinidine
Quinine
Rauwolfia serpentina
Ravocaine 
Reserpine
Salicylamide
Scopolamine
Secobarbital
Sparteine
STP (4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine)
Strychnine
Sulfadiazine
Sulfaethylthiadiazole
Sulfamethoxazole
Sulfamethoxydiazine
Sulfapyridine
Tandearil  
Tegretol 
Tetracycline
Tetrahydrozoline
Thebaine
Theophylline
Thiabendazole
Thiophene analog of PCP
(TCP)
Thiopropazate
Thioridazine
Thiothixene
Tofranil  
Tranylcypromine
Trifluoperazine
Trimeprazine
Trimethadione
Trimethaphan
Trimethoxyamphetamine
(TMA)
Trimipramine
Tripelennamine
Tryptamine
Tuaminoheptane
Tybamate

388433423
004000000
334500330
894000933
308503003
844008438
008000000
030500300
000060000
000500000

048000000
008003000
774000503
000560000
134000000
204000000
004000002
844000003
020500000
000500000
204000700
944500423
000500000
000000000
000060000
148500400
224500880
200000000
284000503
338000000
554500823
834000000
008500000
132550000
000000000
000000000
002503000
002503000
111502113
244500828
144500113
588508883
787500810
988503882
808400000
844057400
494507000

TABLE 3--Numerically arranged color code directory.
Code
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000

Drug
Amisometradine
Bromural  
Caffeine
Carbromal
Carisoprodol
Chloral betaine
Chlorpropamide
Cyclopentamine

Code
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000
000000000

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Drug
Dexamethasone
Diazepara
Furazolidone
Mebutamate
Phenmetrazine
Primidone
Probenecid
Thiabendazole

844000444
002000000
008003000
000063000
008063000
008003000
000003000
808000403
084000303
391503000
284550000
888500883
000060000
000000000
440000000
144501113
574504757
222002221
008500005
805000000
244500823
144500213
000000000
500500000
244000000
054008005
888505430
384006433
008000000
000000000

 646

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

TABLE 3--Continued.
Code
000000000
000000000
000003000
000003000
000007000
000030000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060000
000060003
000063000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500000
000500008
000500333
000560000
000860000
002000000
002000000
002000000
002500000
002503000
002503000
002503000
002990000
003500083
004000000
004000000
004000000
004000002
004000502
004060000
004060000
004080000

Drug
Trimethadione
Tybamate
Meprobamate
Sulfapyridine
Lysergicacid diethylamide
(LSD)
Nitrazepam
Allobarbital
Alphenal
Allylisobutylbarbituric acid
Aminoglutethimide
Aprobarbital
Barbital
Butabarbital
Butalbital
Butethal
Chloral hydrate
Chlorothiazide
Hexobarbital
Metharbital
Phenobarbital
Secobarbital
Theophylline
Diphenylhydantoin
Sulfaethylthiadiazole
Atropine
Carbinoxamine
Chlorpheniramine
Cinchocaine 
Cocaine
Dexbrompheniramine
Diethylpropion
Ephedrine
Hexylcaine
Methylphenidate
Phendimetrazine
Pheniramine
Sparteine
Benoxinate
Methscopolamine
Pentobarbital
Aminophylline
Chloromycetin 
Methaqualone
Strychnine
Hydroxyzine
Chloroprocaine hydrochloride
Procaine
Procainamide
Hydrollazine
Iprindole
Chlorphentermine
Methyprylon
Quinidine
Phenacetin
Acetaminophen
Chlorzoxazone
Hydrochlorothiazide
Isocarboxazid

Code
004080002
008000000
008000000
008003000
008003000
008003000
008003000
008004909
008063000
008500000
008500000
008500005
008503000
020500000
030500000
030500300
030500300
034050000
034500030
038500003
044500408
048000000
048440402
050560005
054008005
084000303
084183000
084500303
104060000
105500000
108000000
108500000
111502113
132550000
134000000
144000403
144500113
144500213
144500900
144501113
145500200
148500113
148500400
158060703
184400884
188000110
188000800
200000000
200000000
204000000
204000700
208000000
222000220
222002221
222002221
222500220
222500220
222560223

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Drug
Ethionamide
Salieylamide
Tuaminoheptane
Benzocaine 
Peganone 
Sulfadiazine
Sulfamethoxydiazine
Bethanecbol
Sulfamethoxazole
Hyoscyamine
Piperocaine
Tofranil  
Butacaine
Fenfluramine
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Anisotropine
Scopolamine
Methimazole
Antipyrine
Homatropine
Benzquinamide
Paramethoxyamphetamine
(PMA)
Amodiaquin
Desipramine
Trimipramine
Tegretol 
Isoniazid
Oxyphenonium
Aspirin
Methadone
Droperidol
Flurazepam
Prochlorperazine
Prilocaine
Percodan  
Papaverine
Promethazine
Trimeprazine
Alphaprodine
Thiopropazate
Hexocyelium
Chlorpromazine
Phenoxybenzamine
Naloxone
Acetophenazine
Ethinamate
Cyerimine
Clortermine
Phentermine resin
Phenacemide
Phenelzine
Methenamine
Mazindol
Chlorprothixene
Thiothixene
Benztropine
Bromodiphenhydramine
Glutethimide

 JOHNS ET AL * SPOT TESTS

647

TABLE 3--Continued.
Code
224500880
239500300
244000000
244500823
244500828
284000000
284000000
284000503
284550000
288000331
308503003
330503333
334000000
334000330
334003333
334500330
338000000
338000330
354000004
383060330
384006433
388433423
391503000
448501333
458806338
479504333
488000000
494507000
500500000
508550000
544500823
545000813
548500823
548000823
548007003
574504757
584550800
588500810
588508883
744000300
744000543
744000708
744000803
744500502
744560702
750000000
754000780
754500303

Drug
Phentermine base
Adiphenine
Trimethoxyamphetamine
(TMA)
Trifluoperazine
Promazine
Cyclomethycaine
Haloperidol
Phenylephrine
Tetrahydrozoline
Mescaline
Ravocaine 
Clorazepate
Octin 
Meclizine
Oxazepam
Quinine sulfate
Phenylpropanolamine
Chlordiazepoxide
Mefenamicacid
Methyelothiazide
Tryptamine
Quinacrine
Tetracycline
N, N-Diethyltryptamine (DET)
a-Methyltryptamine
Ibogaine
Dimethoxyamphetamine
(DMA)
Psilocyn
Trimethaphan camsylate
Azapetine
Pipenzolate
Clidinium
Benzilonium
Mepenzolate
Methysergide
Thioridazine
Naphazoline
Benaetyzine
Propantheline
Ethylmorphine
Deserpidine
Morphine
Oxyeodone
Codeinephosphate
Nalorphine hydrochloride
Hydrocodone
Heroin
Didrate 

Code
757000573
774000503
784000798
787500810
789060732
800500000
800500000
804000000
804000000
804000000
804500000
805000000
808000403
808040000
814400880
824000020
834000000
834500000
838500220
840000733
844000003
844000444
844008438
844057400
848002488
874005889
882000822
884000403
884000430
884060000
884090932
884500553
888000880
888000883
888003488
888500080
888500820
888500883
888505430
888507333
894000933
898000880
944500423
959000573
988503882
994007238
994007442
994500503
999006488

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Drug
Methylenedioxyamphetamine
(MDA)
Pentazocine
Isopropamide
d-Propoxyphene
Oxymorphone
Debrisoquine
Meperidine
d,/-Amphetamine
Fentanyl
Mephentermine
Methamphetamine
Tranylcypromine
Tandearil 
Pseudoephedrine
Carphenazine
Oxyphencyclimine
Piperidolate
Benzphetamine
Diphenhydramine
Opium
Phenazocine
STP (4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine)
Reserpine
Psilocybin
Indole
Bufotenine
Methixene
Hydroxyamphetamine
Diphenidol
Methohexital
Ethylnoradrenaline
Oxymetazoline
Akineton
Cyproheptadine
Harmaline
Amitriptyline
Nortriptyline
Thebaine
Tripelennamine
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Rauwolfiaserpentina
Betamethasone
Phenindamine
Methylenedimethoxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
Protriptyline
Ergotamine
Lysergieacid
Levorphanol
Methylergonovine

 648

JOURNALOF FORENSIC SCIENCES

Summary
The results of nine different color tests were recorded for each of more than 200 drugs.
The drugs included in the study consisted of those most commonly encountered in forensic
chemistry. The formulations for the different test reagents used are given along with their
references. The data from the spot tests are organized in tables by assigning a numerical
digit for each color test result.

APPENDIX
Drug Sources
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(26)
(27)
(28)

Abbott Laboratories
Aldrich Chemical Co.
Analabs, Inc.
Applied Science Laboratories, Inc.
Astra Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.
Ayerst Laboratories
Brinkmann Instruments, Inc.
California Toxicology Service, Inc.
CIBA Pharmaceutical Co.
Cooper Laboratories, Inc.
Dorsey Laboratories
Drug Enforcement Administration
Eastman Organic Chemicals
Eaton Laboratories
Endo Laboratories, Inc.
Fisher Scientific Co.
Geigy Pharmaceuticals
Gilman Laboratories
Hoechst Pharmaceutical Co.
Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc.
Ives Laboratories, Inc.
K & K Laboratories, Inc.
Knoll Pharmaceutical Co.
Lakeside Laboratories, Inc.
Lederle Laboratories
Eli Lilly and Co.
Malliekrodt, Inc.
McNeil Laboratories

(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(37)
(38)
(39)
(40)
(41)
(42)
(43)
(44)
(45)
(46)
(47)
(48)
(49)
(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(54)
(55)
(56)

Mead Johnson Laboratories
Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck Sharp & Dohme
Merrell-National Laboratories, Inc.
National Formulary
Norwich Pharmaceutical Co.
Parke-Davis & Co.
S. D. Penick & Co.
Pennwalt Pharmaceutical Div.
Pfizer Laboratories
A. H. Robins Co.
Regis
Roche Laboratories
Sandoz Laboratories
Schering Corp.
G. D. Searle & Co.
Sigma
Smith Kline & French Laboratories
E. R. Squibb & Sons
Sterling-Winthrop
Supelco
The Upjohn Company
U. S. Pharmacopeia
USV Pharmaceutical Corp.
Wallace Laboratories
Warner-Lambert
Warren-Teed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Wyeth Laboratories

References
[1] Gonzales, T. A., Vance, M., Helpern, M., and Umberger, C., Legal Medicine Pathology and
Toxicology, 2nd ed., Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1954, pp. 1298-1311.
[2] Butler, W. P., in Methods of Analysis, A. P. Mathers, Ed., Internal Revenue Service, U.S.
Government Printing Office 0-410-684, Washington, D.C., 1970, pp. 106, 136, 137.
[3] Clarke, E. G. C., Isolation and Identification of Drugs, Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1971,
pp. 123-134, 798-809.
[4] Clarke, E. G. C., Isolation and Identification of Drugs. Vol. 2, Pharmaceutical Press, London,
1975, pp. 1176-1188.
[5] Feigl, F., Spot Tests in Organic Analysis, Elsevier, New York, 1960, pp. 136-140, 381,382.
[6] Fulton, C. C., Modern Microcrystal Tests for Drugs, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1969, pp.
335-339.
Copyright by ASTM
Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Apr 13 11:13:07 EDT 2016
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 JOHNS ET AL

9 SPOT TESTS

649

[7] Sobol, S. P. and Moore, R. A., in Analytical Manual, J. W. Gunn, Ed., Bureau of Narcotics
and Dangerous Drugs, U.S. Government Printing Office 0-506-836, Washington, D.C., 1970,
pp. 19, 169, 170.
[8] Stewart, C. P. and Stolman, A., Toxicology: Mechanisms and Analytical Methods, Vol. 2, 3rd
ed., Academic Press, New York, 1972, pp. 166, 229-231,242-250, 545-547.
Address requests for reprints or additional information to
S. H. Johns
Illinois Department of Law Enforcement
Bureau of Scientific Services
2291A Court St.
Pekin, Ill. 61554

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