GUIDE How to test 2C-B?

How to test 2C-B: start by identifying what the sample actually is, then check how much of it there is. 2C-B is a psychedelic phenethylamine that usually comes as a grey or tan powder, but it can also look like white crystals – appearance never identifies it. Check your sample with a single or multi-use 2C-B test kit

2C-B tester

Single use 2C-B tester available with free shipping. This test gives the least amount of information and should be used with extra caution. Read about more advanced tools further down.

The multi-use kit for 2C-B is the PRO Test Kit for MDMA and Cuts: 2C-B and MDMA are identified with the same five reagents, so one kit covers both and there is no separate 2C-B multi-use kit to buy.

It contains Marquis, Mecke, Simon’s, Robadope and Zimmermann. For a single sample there is a dedicated single-use PRO Test Kit for 2C-B. Reagents Marquis, Mecke, Robadope are required to identify 2C-B.

Simon’s reagent helps detect CMC, MMC, methamphetamine, MDMA or PMMA. Zimmermann reagent helps detect benzodiazepines and cathinones.

To discover full ingredients and estimate 2C-B % pair reagents with TLC MDMA Purity Test Kit. If your sample is pink, use the PRO Test Kit for Tuci instead: it swaps Mecke for Morris, which reads ketamine and cathinones better. To detect fentanyl use the fentanyl test strips.

STEP ONE How to identify 2C-B?

How to use reagent tests?

How to use reagent tests

Watch how to test 2C-B with reagents:

Watch how to test 2C-B with reagents:

TL;DR: Below is an image with a quick cheat sheet how to use the 2C-B Test Kit and further down you can check out more detailed guide how to test 2C-B. Use the 2C-B reagent test chart to see how to use Marquis reagentMecke, RobadopeSimon’s and Zimmermann, check the expected results.

2C-B test results chart:

TEST 2C-B
MARQUIS Yellow > Green > Blueish
MECKE Yellow > Olive-brown
MANDELIN Greenish brown
LIEBERMANN Yellow > Black
FROEHDE Green
EHRLICH No color change
HOFMANN No color change
SIMON’S No blue color change
ROBADOPE Pink color change
MORRIS Pale green
ZIMMERMANN No color change / faint yellow
CANNABIS (4-AP) No color change

All results are available in our booklet and app.

What are 2C-B test kit reagents used for?

SAMPLE RECOMMENDED 2C-B REAGENT TESTS
2C-B / MDA / MDMA / METH/AMPHETAMINE 
  • Marquis
  • Mecke
  • Simon’s
  • Robadope
  • Zimmermann
  • single-use 2C-B test kit
  • multiple-use 2C-B test kit

Reagent tests indicate presence of a substance, therefore can either help confirm presence of the expected compound or help rule out certain cuts.

  • Marquis – main test for most powders, secondary test for ketamine, mephedrone and psychedelics
  • Mecke – main test for most powders, secondary test for cocaine, ketamine and mephedrone
  • Simon – main test for secondary amines, e.g. MDMA, meth, mephedrone, methylone or PMMA
  • Robadope – main test for primary amines, e.g. 2C-B, MDA, amphetamine or PMA
  • Zimmermann / Beam – main test for cathinones and benzodiazepines in general, detects also CBD
  • Single use 2C-B test kit includes Marquis reagent
  • Multi use 2C-B reagent test kit includes reagents Marquis, Mecke, Simon’s, Robadope and Zimmermann

Marquis reagent is the main test for 2C-B and produces a yellow-green color change with 2C compounds. Mecke reagent and Robadope are the recommended follow up tests.

Simon’s can detect secondary amines (meth, MDMA, PMMA, mephedrone derivatives) in MDA. Zimmermann reagent helps rule out secondary and tertiary cathinones, mostly MMC and PVP analogs.

2C-B test kit results

Testing 2C-B with Marquis reagent, Mecke and Robadope

2C-B drug test: 2C-B vs Tuci (“pink cocaine”)

2C-B and Tuci are completely different drugs, although they share a similar name. 2C-B is a psychedelic phenethylamine, characterized by very low “head space” and strong visuals.

Tuci on the other hand is what we call “trash off dealer’s table”, usually a random mixture of pink food colouring, ketamine, caffeine and a serotonergic drug – commonly MDMA, 2C-B or a cathinone such as 3-CMC, but the full list is much longer (source: https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/Global_SMART_Update_2022_Vol.27.pdf)

Use Robadope and Simon’s reagents to tell 2C-B apart from Tuci. 2C-B causes a pink or purple colour change with Robadope, while Simon’s reacts to MDMA and other secondary amines with a blue colour change. Use both for a reliable answer.

If the sample is pink, the food colouring itself distorts the reading. Dissolve the sample in part A before adding part B, and do not stir after part B has gone in. For pink samples the PRO Test Kit for Tuci carries Morris in place of Mecke, which reads the ketamine and cathinones usually present better. 

STEP TWO How to test 2C-B purity %?

To discover all adulterants and estimate quantity (purity) pair reagent tests with a TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) Purity Test Kit.

TLC purity tests alone don’t identify substances and are best paired with at least 1-2 reagent tests. Thin Layer Chromatography is one of classic substance analysis methods.

It works by separating different compounds depending on their solubility in chosen TLC testing liquid (eluent).

To check 2C-B purity, pair a reagent test kit with the MDMA Purity Test Kit, whose testing liquid also separates 2C-B. Note that the lab-calibrated % scales cover MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine and 4-MMC, so for 2C-B this kit reliably shows how many substances are present and roughly how much – not a calibrated percentage.

How to test quality of 2C-B?

Qualitative TLC:

TLC test works by separating substances present in a sample, each detected spot indicates a different substance. 

  • You can use an already confirmed sample for reference – if both compounds show up at the same height on the TLC “card” that indicates they can be the same substance.
  • You can use any substance for reference after establishing their relation – if substance X shows up twice as high on the same testing “card” as substance Y, you can expect them to keep that ratio.
TLC Cocaine Purity Test

TLC Cocaine Purity Test potency scale

Reference adjusted from 66% pure cocaine with coffeine and ethenzamide. Due to UV-C light photo might not display correctly.
tlc mdma do identyfikacji składu i testowania czystości

TLC MDMA Purity Test potency scale

Reference results ranging from 10% up to 100%, adjusted from lab confirmed pure MDMA hydrochloride sample

How to test quality of 2C-B?

Semi-quantitative TLC:

TLC helps estimate quantity (potency). The bigger the size of the detected spot, the bigger the amount of measured substance. Note that different substances need different calibrated rulers and often different testing liquids (eluents).

  • One spot indicates a pure substance. If your sample fully dissolved in testing liquid and only one spot was detected on TLC then your substance is pure. Trace amounts of impurities might not be detected, do not rely on TLC for fentanyl testing – get also fentanyl test strips.

How to use TLC purity tests?

TLC pictograms

Watch how to test 2C-B with TLC:

Pair with a reagent test kit to identify substances. Use both kits separately.

Watch how to test 2C-B with TLC:

Pair with a reagent test kit to identify substances. Use both kits separately.

Questions?

How to test 2C-B for fentanyl?

Use fentanyl test strips (a fentanyl test kit)

Fentanyl test strip instructions – how to use fentanyl test strips

METHOD 1   

If testing a benzo/opioid pill, crush one in a plastic baggie and dump out the powder.  Then add 10 drops of water into the baggie and mix well. Dip the test strip no higher than the thick line. Wait 15 seconds. Put the strip away and check in 5 minutes.

METHOD 2

Mix 100 mg of sample in 200 ml of water. Dip the test strip no higher than the thick line. Wait 15 seconds. Put the strip away and check in 5 minutes.

COMPARE RESULTS

1 line = fentanyl, 2 lines = no fentanyl. Faint lines also count. Ignore fentanyl tester results after 5 minutes.

To detect all ingredients and estimate their amount pair reagents with a TLC purity test kit.

A positive or negative test result does not indicate if a substance is safe. No substance is 100% safe.

How to read the result

A positive result is a colour change resembling one shown in the instructions. It does NOT indicate quantity, purity or safety. Adulterants often do not react at all – try to detect them using different reagents. A negative result is a colour change that differs from the instructions: your sample is adulterated, discard it.

Harm reduction

There is no such thing as fully safe drug use, but harm reduction rules can help make psychoactive substances safer. Always do an “allergy test” – with a substance you do not know yet, start with 1/3 of a dose or less. Always use the smallest dose needed for the effect you want. Never share equipment, and do not use dirty objects such as banknotes (infection risk). Do not redose, at least not for 2-3 hours. Avoid mixing psychoactive substances.

This article does not encourage the use of psychoactive substances and does not replace medical advice.