Drug Testing Best Practice: A Harm Reduction Guide

Testing substances

Testing Substances: How to Test Substances Correctly

A test is only useful if it's done correctly. These guides walk you through how to test specific substances step by step: what reactions to expect, which adulterants to look out for and how to avoid the mistakes that lead to false confidence.

lab basics

Measurement & Lab Basics: The Skills Behind Accurate Results

Testing tools are only as reliable as the technique behind them. This section covers the practical fundamentals in measuring, pipetting and dilution that ensure your results can actually be trusted.

measuring results

Photometer & Quantitative Testing: Numbers, Not Guesswork

Colour changes can be misleading when judged by eye alone. This section covers the tools and techniques that allow test results to be measured rather than interpreted.

science & validation

Science, Validation & Trust

Harm reduction depends on trust and trust depends on scientific rigour. This section explains how testing methods are developed, validated and evaluated and why transparency and evidence are essential for reliable harm reduction practices.

consumer practices

Smart Consumer Practices

Understanding what to look for in harm reduction tools and what to question. This section outlines the key aspects of reliable drug testing tools and how to look after those tools once you have them. 

Meet the Experts Behind This Testing Guide

This content is created and regularly reviewed by scientists working in drug checking, analytical chemistry, and harm reduction.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. Felix Blei – Scientific Author

Dr. Felix Blei is the CEO and Founder of miraculix Lab, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. With a PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Microbiology and a strong background in natural product biosynthesis, he is internationally recognized for his pioneering work on psychoactive fungi—particularly the biosynthesis of psilocybin and related compounds (Blei, F., 2020).

During his doctoral research at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Microbiology under Prof. Dirk Hoffmeister, Dr. Blei was the first to elucidate the full biosynthetic pathway of psilocybin in Psilocybe mushrooms (Fricke, Blei et al., 2017) Angewandte Chemie. He further developed an in vitro system capable of producing psilocybin, serotonin, and novel non-natural analogues (Blei et al., 2018) Chemistry- A European Journal . His discovery of naturally occurring β-carbolines in Psilocybe—compounds that may synergistically enhance psilocybin's neurotropic effects—led to the concept of “psilohuasca,” a naturally occurring combination of MAO inhibitors and psychedelics in fungi (Blei, Dörner et al. 2020) Chemistry–A European Journal.

Building on his academic expertise, Dr. Blei developed the first reliable rapid tests for psilocybin, which laid the foundation for the spin-off company miraculix. Today, miraculix provides quantitative drug checking tools that are used throughout Germany and Europe. He also leads the German ALIVE project—an evidence-based drug checking Initiative funded by state governments, offering mobile substance analysis and harm reduction at music festivals and public events.

With over 500 citations, numerous publications in high-impact journals, and a passion for accessible science, Dr. Blei bridges cutting-edge research with real-world application. His work contributes to safer substance use, public health strategies, and a deeper understanding of natural psychoactive compounds.

You can learn more about him on LinkedIn or read his publications on Researchgate

Dr. Marina Garcia Moreno – Scientific Author

Dr. Marina Garcia Moreno is the Chief Scientific Officer at miraculix Lab, where she leads scientific development focused on harm reduction, drug checking, and psychoactive substance analysis. She holds a PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology from Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany), and has over 8 years of experience in biomedical and translational research.

Before joining miraculix, Dr. Garcia Moreno worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University Clinic Jena. Her academic training includes a Master’s degree in Biomedicine and Molecular Biology from the University of the Basque Country.

As a multilingual science communicator, she is deeply committed to science-based education, public health, and bridging the gap between research and society. Through her writing and development of analytical tools, she aims to make scientific knowledge accessible, reliable, and actionable for a broad audience, from professionals to the general public.

You can learn more about her background on LinkedIn.

Elisa Doro-Goldsmith - Scientific Author

Elisa Doro-Goldsmith, MChem (Hons), is a recent chemistry graduate from the University of Edinburgh with a strong foundation in analytical chemistry and a growing passion for harm reduction and science communication. Her master’s research, conducted in collaboration with the Technische Universität Berlin, focused on anisotropic NMR spectroscopy and her findings were successfully published in the Journal of Natural Products, where she co-authored a paper on the absolute configuration of a novel natural product with antiviral properties.

Motivated by a commitment to harm reduction and safety awareness around recreational drug use, Elisa joined miraculix, where she contributes towards accessible, evidence-based content that supports safer practices in nightlife. In her free time, she works as part of the safety awareness team at a Berlin-based electronic music collective, where she engages directly in harm-reduction and education.

You can learn more about her professional background on LinkedIn.