GUIDE How to test MDA?

How to test MDA (Sally): if you intend to use a psychoactive substance first you need a test kit to check purity. Pure MDA can look white, brown or tan and can’t be identified by appearence. Check your sample with a single or multi-use MDA test kit

MDA tester

Single use MDA 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.

Recommended multi-use MDA/MDMA reagent test kit includes reagents Marquis, Mecke, Simon’s, Robadope and Zimmermann. Reagents Marquis, Mecke, Robadope are required to identify MDA. Simon’s reagent helps detect CMC, MMC, methamphetamine, MDMA or PMMA. Zimmermann reagent helps detect benzodiazepines and cathinones. To discover full ingredients and estimate MDA % pair reagents with TLC MDMA Purity Test Kit. To detect fentanyl use the fentanyl test strips.

STEP ONE How to identify MDA?

How to use reagent tests?

How to test MDA?

Watch how to test MDA with reagents:

Watch how to test MDA with reagents:

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

MDA test results chart:

TEST MDA
MARQUIS Instant purple / brown > black
MECKE Instant green > black
MANDELIN Instant black
LIEBERMANN Instant black
FROEHDE Instant black
EHRLICH No color change
HOFMANN No color change
SIMON’S No blue color change
ROBADOPE Pink color change
MORRIS Green
ZIMMERMANN No color change / faint yellow
CANNABIS (4-AP) No color change

 

All results are available in our booklet and app.

What are MDA test kit reagents used for?

SAMPLE RECOMMENDED MDA REAGENT TESTS
MDA / MDMA / METH/AMPHETAMINE / 2C-B 

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. MDA, amphetamine or PMA
  • Zimmermann / Beam – main test for cathinones and benzodiazepines in geneal, detects also CBD
  • Single use MDMA test kit includes Marquis reagent
  • Multi use MDMA reagent test kit includes reagents Marquis, Mecke, Simon’s, Robadope and Zimmermann

Marquis reagent is the main test for MDA and produces an instant black color change with MDA, MDMA, but also MDEA and a few other compounds. Mecke reagent is the recommended follow up test.

Simon’s and Robadope are useful both to confirm MDMA or MDA as well as detect primary amines (2C-x, amphetamine, MDA, PMA) in MDMA, or secondary amines (meth, MDMA, PMMA, mephedrone derrivatives) in MDA. Zimmermann reagent helps rule out secondary and tertiary cathinones, mostly MMC and PVP analogs.

Marquis reagent tests for MDMA and 2C-B

MDMA test kit results

Testing MDMA with Marquis reagent, Mecke, Simon’s, Robadope and Zimmermann

MDA vs MDMA

Use Robadope and/or Simon’s reagents to tell apart MDMA and MDA. MDA will cause a pink color change with Robadope reagent, while Simon’s will react to MDMA with an instant blue color change. Use both in your MDMA testing kit for best results. 
 
MDA is more common in America, although it is often found worldwide as a trace syntesis contaminant in MDMA sample.  MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) are amphetamine-derived psychoactive drugs. They differ in their chemical structures, effects, and uses. Both substances have varying legal statuses worldwide and carry potential health risks, making responsible use crucial.
 
MDA is known for its stimulating and hallucinogenic properties, often producing altered perceptions and increased energy. In contrast, MDMA, commonly called ecstasy, is recognized for its empathogenic and entactogenic effects, fostering emotional closeness and sociability. Neurochemically, MDA has a more pronounced impact on dopamine release, while MDMA primarily affects serotonin release, leading to differences in their effects. 

STEP TWO How to test MDA purity %?

To discover all adulterants and estimate quantity 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 precisly estimate MDA purity pair a reagent test kit with the MDMA Purity Test Kit.

How to test quality of MDA?

 
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.
Reference adjusted from 66% pure cocaine with coffeine and ethenzamide. Due to UV-C light photo might not display correctly.

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

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 MDA?

 
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).

  • Use a calibrated potency % ruler to estimate result with +-10% accuracy
  • 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?

How to test MDA?

Watch how to test MDA with TLC:

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

Watch how to test MDA with TLC:

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

Questions?

How to test MDA for fentanyl?

Use fentanyl test strips (a fentanyl test kit)

Fentanyl test kit instructios

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.