Evaluation of test performance of Simon's reagent and Marquis reagent for so-called Ecstasy tablets

So-called “Ecstasy tablets” are tablets which are expected to contain 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). However, they often contain different drugs such as methamphetamine (MA) and 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B). A combination of Simon's reagent and Marquis reagent has been used as a field test for Ecstasy tablets in Japan. We examined the test performance for Ecstasy tablets. Mixtures of MDMA hydrochloride and lactose (1 or 5 mg), mixtures of MDMA hydrochloride and cellulose (1 mg) as well as pulverized Ecstasy tablets (1 mg) [main drugs: MDMA (n=39, 8.4 to 79.9% as MDMA hydrochloride), MA (n=9, 0.1 to 59.0% as MA hydrochloride), and 2C-B (n=6, 4.5 to 13.0% as 2C-B hydrochloride)] were placed on a white spot plate; then, the reagents were dropped. The color change was recorded by a digital camera. When 1 mg of the mixture of MDMA hydrochloride and the diluent was used, the lowest MDMA hydrochloride concentration giving positive was 25%, except when the combination of Simon's reagent and the mixture of MDMA hydrochloride and cellulose (1%) was used. When increasing the sample amount to 5 mg, enhancement of coloration for Marquis reagent was weaker than that for Simon's reagent because of the low sample solubility. All MDMA tablets was positive to Simon's reagent; however, 5 MDMA tablets, whose MDMA concentration was low (≤16.5% as MDMA hydrochloride), was negative for the Marquis reagent. Only 1 MA tablet (59% as MA hydrochloride) was positive for both tests. All 2C-B tablets were judged as negative for the Marquis reagent because of faint color change and influence of tablet color. We concluded that a combination of both reagents i) had acceptable sensitivity for MDMA tablets but may give some false negative results and ii) had insufficient sensitivity for MA tablets and 2C-B tablets. This study will provide useful information about the field test for Ecstasy tablets.