Information Leaflet on Drug and Precursor Identification Kits

Purpose and scope of action

The UNODC test kits, developed and produced by the Laboratory and Scientific Section, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, are intended to provide law enforcement officers with rapid and simple colour tests for the preliminary field identification of drugs and precursors most commonly encountered in the illicit traffic. In all cases where presumptive positive results are obtained with these tests, the suspected material should be submitted to an authorized laboratory for further confirmatory analyses.

Contents of the kits

The kits are assembled in a shock-proof and water resistant plastic container and are identified by the United Nations seal. The container measures 31x28x11 cm, weighs approximately 1.35 kg and contains reagents for the identification of drugs or precursor.

Standard kits contain enough colour reagents to carry out more than 500 tests, approx. 80-100 for each drug or precursor.

Drug Test Kit

Tests for all major drugs, including:

  • Amphetamine

  • Barbiturates

  • Cannabis and cannabis products

  • Cocaine

  • Ecstasy

  • Heroin

  • Mescaline

  • Methamphetamine

  • Methaqualone

  • Opium, morphine and codeine

Precursor Test Kit

Tests for precursors of all major drug groups, including:

  • Isosafrole, 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-  propanone, Phenylacetic acid, 1-Phenyl-2-propanone, Piperonal, Safrole

  • Piperidine

  • N-Acetylanthranilic acid, Anthranilic acid

  • Ergometrine, Ergotamine, Lysergic acid

  • Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Norephedrine

  • Potassium permanganate

  • Acetic anhydride

  • Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone

  • Hydrochloric acid

  • Sulphuric acid

  • Toluene

 

Both kits can be adjusted to meet special needs of countries or regions.

In addition to colour reagents, each kit contains:

Test tubes, spot-plate, eye-droppers, dissecting needle and spatula.

Instructions for use of the kits and flow charts to assist in selecting the appropriate test on the basis of the nature of the suspected material; these instructions and flow charts are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Training for use of the kits can be arranged upon request.

Ordering procedure

Arrangements have been made to make them available in limited numbers and upon request against a contribution of US$150 per kit.

Requests for kits should be channeled through the office of UNODC's Country / Regional Representative.

In countries / regions where no such office exists, requests should be channeled through the office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative / Coordinator, or addressed directly to UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Section at:

Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 500
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Fax:     +43 1 26060 5688
E-mail: Contact Form

Payment should be made to the UN bank account as indicated in the invoice that will be issued after an official request.