Forensic identification of LSD typically relies on the Ehrlich spot test, which is nonspecific and cannot distinguish LSD from the uncontrolled substance 9,10-dihydro-LSD, recently found in Brazilian blotters. This work used easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) to characterize LSD and 9,10-dihydro-LSD directly from blotter surfaces. Of 41 blotters analyzed by EASI-MS, 28 tested positive for LSD, seven for 9,10-dihydro-LSD, and six for neither. Results were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Combining thin-layer chromatography with EASI-MS proved a simple, powerful screening tool for forensic drug analysis.
A new screening method combining a color change and an electrochemical signal can identify LSD and related drugs (NBOHs, NBOMes, 2Cs) on blotter papers. The method uses Emerson's reagent to produce a color change and a voltammetric measurement on a graphite electrode to detect the drugs. It provides three distinct responses for NBOHs, allowing unambiguous identification, and can distinguish between different drug types. The technique is stable (less than 2.3% variability), sensitive (detection limit of 0.3 μg per mL), and works across a wide concentration range (10 to 1000 μg per mL). When tested on 33 real seized samples, the results matched those from standard confirmatory methods, offering a simple and fast tool for forensic screening.