PSILOCYBIN QTEST

For a quick overview of how to perform the test, please refer to the quick guide (see slider above).

Here you’ll find the most up-to-date version of the detailed instructions. A printed copy is always included with your test kit. The instructions are also available in multiple languages: 

• English: Psilocybin QTest Manual EN
• German: Psilocybin QTest Manual DE
• Spanish: Psilocybin QTest Manual ES
• Portuguese: Psilocybin QTest Manual PT
• Dutch: Psilocybin QTest Manual NL
• Polish: Psilocybin QTest Manual PL
• French: Psilocybin QTest Manual FR
• Czech: Psilocybin QTest Manual CZ
• Italian: Psilocybin QTest Manual IT

Is shipping discreet?

Yes. Your order is shipped in neutral, unbranded packaging with no indication of the contents. This ensures full privacy.  For more information, please see our shipping details.

How long does shipping take?

Delivery times depend on your location. Orders are dispatched on Mondays to ensure safe transport of the reagents.

• Germany & EU: typically 2–4 working days
• International: may vary depending on customs

Do I need anything else to perform the test?

Everything you need is included in the box. To prepare your sample, you will also need a few common household items:

• A grinder or scissors to finely grind the sample
• A milligram scale to weigh 150 mg
• A small funnel, weighing dish or a folded piece of paper to transfer the sample into the vial
• A pot to boil water and kitchen tongs to safely handle the vial during the test

What sample types can I test?

• Dried mushroom material (powder or whole, finely ground)
• Truffles
• Psilocybin extracts
• Tinctures (with specific handling, see below)

You cannot test fresh/wet mushrooms – samples must be fully dried before analysis.

Edibles (e.g. chocolate) are not suitable, as the matrix interferes with the chemical reaction.

Can I test tinctures or liquid extracts? 

Yes, but liquids must be handled carefully, as alcohol and excess volume can interfere with the reaction. You have two options:

Option 1: Test directly (liquid form): Use 0.15–0.30 mL (recommended ~0.20 mL). The result reflects the concentration in the tested volume (e.g., 0.20 mL → 0.8% ≈ 0.4% per 0.10 mL). For highly concentrated tinctures, use a smaller volume or dilute before testing. Note: results may be less reliable if volume or alcohol content is too high.

Option 2: Evaporate the solvent (recommended for best accuracy): Let the alcohol fully evaporate, then test the remaining dry residue like a standard extract.

The Psilocybin QTest is validated for 150 mg of starting material. However, extracts are usually more concentrated than dried mushroom material. Using 150 mg of a concentrated extract may therefore produce a color that is too intense to compare accurately with the evaluation chart.

To keep the result within the color range, reduce the amount of extract according to its concentration. For example:

• For a 3× concentrated extract, use 50 mg (0.05 g).
• For a 10× concentrated extract, use 15 mg (0.015 g).

Make sure the dry residue is well homogenized before weighing your sample.

When reading the result with the color chart, multiply the displayed concentration by the concentration factor of your extract. For example, multiply the result by 3 for a 3× extract or by 10 for a 10× extract to calculate the concentration in the original sample.

How much material do I need for the test?

Dried mushrooms: you only need 150 mg (0.15 g) of your sample. For best results, grind a larger batch, mix it thoroughly, and then take 150 mg from this homogenized material. This ensures a more accurate and representative result.

Extracts: Extracts are more concentrated than dried mushrooms, so you’ll need less material. 

• ~3× extract: ~50 mg
• ~10× extract: ~15 mg (0.015 g)
• Stronger extracts: use even less

After reading the result, multiply by the concentration factor to calculate the true potency of your original sample. 

Does the QTest also detect Psilocin?

Yes. The Psilocybin QTest measures total alkaloid content (psilocybin + psilocin) and reports it as total psilocybin concentration.

What does “quantitative test” mean?

Unlike classic reagent tests that only show whether a substance is present, the QTest measures how much is present. It determines the concentration of active compounds, such as psilocybin and psilocin, in your sample.

What is the shelf life and how should I store the test?

The shelf life is at least 18 months. Store the reagents in the refrigerator (2°C–8°C) and protect them from direct sunlight. Slight yellowing of the extraction liquid over time is normal and does not affect performance.

How can I prevent the filter from clogging?

To reduce the risk of clogging, avoid drawing in floating mushroom material. Before applying suction, position the filter below any visible particles so only clear liquid is pulled through.If clogging does occur, you can carefully clean the filter and try again. The test can still work if small particles pass through, but excess debris may make colour evaluation more difficult (Link to our video).

For finely powdered samples, we recommend using our Filter for Fine Mushroom Samples, which helps remove solid particles from the extraction liquid.

Do solvents interfere with the measurement?

Yes, excessive solvent content can affect accuracy. If possible, evaporate solvents (e.g. ethanol) before testing, determine the dry weight, and use that for measurement to ensure reliable results.

Where can I learn more about substances and safe use?

For up-to-date information on different substances, harm reduction, safer use practices, and drug checking, check out our blog. We regularly publish guides, testing advice, and educational resources to help you stay informed.

Haven’t found the answer you’re looking for?

Visit our FAQ section or contact us via info@miraculix-lab.de

Compliant with established pharmaceutical testing criteria – Pharmaceutical Validation ICH Q2(R1)

Our QTests were developed by our scientist, Dr. Felix Blei, in the laboratories of the University of Jena in Germany. It is a voluntarily validated and standardized test procedure based on the pharmaceutical method validation guideline ICH Q2(R1), which we have extended to the QTests. This guideline describes the requirements of the analytical method for active ingredients that are subsequently to be used in human medicine and guarantees a safe dosage of these active ingredients, for example in pharmacies.

The PSILO-QTest was developed at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena at the Institute of Pharmacy, Chair of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, under grant number 03EGSTH1189, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and the European Social Fund, in the course of the third-party funded project “Production of quantitative test systems of psychotropic agents” in the period from 2019 to 2021 under the project management of Dr. Felix Blei. The necessary permission for the handling and acquisition of the narcotics psilocybin/psilocin according to § 3 of the German Narcotics Act was granted for the Friedrich Schiller University Jena under the current BtM number 463 23 75 as well as the previous one for the premises of the Pharmaceutical Microbiology in Jena. The pure substances required for the project were purchased from LIPOMED GmbH and LGC Standards Ltd.

Interested in learning more? Please take a look at our short validation of the Psilocybin-QTest

Validation by authorities – State-regulated drug checking

The QTest where officially validated & approved for the federal drug-checking program ALIVE in the federal state of Thuringa (Germany). They have already been used on-site for 3 years and form the backbone of the mobile analysis methods. An evaluation of mobile drug checking is currently being prepared for publication by the Berlin Charité.

Confirmation from others

The functionality and the precision of our QTests have already been tested & validated by a lot of customers and third parties:

Psilocybe Expert & Shroomery Community founder Alan Rockefeller is a convinced user of our QTests, straight from the beginning. He uses the Psilo-QTests to quantify the psilocybin in rare species like in the YT Series “crime pays but botany doesn’t”

Doma aka Magic Myco, has extensively analyzed our tests in parallel to his HPLC analysis and pure standards, as well as already evaluating our tests with spectrophotometric methods:

Psychedelic Passage compared the results of our rapid tests with laboratory tests from Energy Control International (a long-standing drug-checking program in Spain) for identical samples and come to convincing results

• Psilocybin Q-Test Result: According to our at-home test, there is approximately 1.1% psilocybin and psilocin combined in a 1-gram sample of our mushrooms
• Psilocybin HPLC Test Result: The lab analysis revealed a psilocybin content of 1.08% psilocybin and psilocin combined

“The results from the two tests are very close. The slight difference between the at-home test prediction and the lab test result is negligible. Considering that both methods can fluctuate within 10% in accuracy, the minor variation is well within the acceptable range of variation. This indicates that Miraculix QTests are reliable tools for assessing the potency of your psilocybin mushrooms.”

This test is not suitable for identifying Psilocybin/Psilocin or psilocybin-containing mushrooms. For example: When picking wild mushrooms, there is a risk of confusing or mixing them with the toxic Galerina Maginata, which grows in similar habitats. The QTest does not test for fungal toxins, so it cannot be used for mushroom identification. However for test psilocybin-containing mushrooms, the QTest quantifies the amount of the active substance present.

Psilocybin is not uniformly distributed within mushrooms! Even mushrooms from the same batch can vary significantly in their psilocybin content. To ensure accuracy, it is essential to homogenize the mushroom material thoroughly by using a grinder, sharp knife, or cutting board before conducting the test. The test result will indicate the percentage of psilocybin per gram in the homogenized material.  The total measurement will be presented in terms of psilocybin, encompassing both psilocybin and psilocin.

IMPORTANT: Testing a sample with our test kits should not be considered a guarantee of safety. Essential risks are associated with the consumption of any substance. Various factors can influence testing outcomes and reactions. Miraculix does not take responsibility for the interpretation of test result. Sample responses can differ due to lighting variations and specific substance blends being tested. The use or misuse of this information is not the responsibility of miraculix.