#TestIt Alert: Alleged magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) test as ergosterol, a compound present in ergot and many other fungi
Last Updated: August 1, 2022
By: DanceSafe Staff
A bizarre EcstasyData.org entry shows a brown, yellow and off-white dried fungal matter that was sourced in Dallas, TX as “Psilocybe cubensis grown with DiPT,” but which tested as nothing more than ergosterol, a compound found in the cell membrane of fungi. No DiPT was detected. In fact, the entry was so strange, notes from the lab state:
“We’re not sure what to say about this result. Plant-based and fungal materials pose special challenges. Ergosterol is a substance that is present in the cell membranes of fungi. We’ve reached out to our expert network for ideas about what this result means. Check back here for updates, we will post them if we have any.”
The researches then requested that the owner of the entry contact the lab about the submission “to elaborate on this material’s story.”
According to EcstasyData.org, there was no reaction for the Marquis, Mecke, and Mandelin reagents.
We urge our community to keep in mind that drug markets are expansive and these substances may appear in locations other than the submission’s origins. Always test before you ingest to avoid ingesting misrepresented substances. Purchase your DanceSafe drug checking kit here.
If you test a misrepresented substance, please submit it to testit@dancesafe.org to be featured in a #TestIt Alert.
The purpose of #TestIt Alerts is to alert the public to misrepresented substances in the unregulated, prohibition-driven drug markets. We neither condemn nor condone drug use, but rather want people to be aware of what they intend on ingesting so they can take steps to minimize risks associated with use of a particular substance.
Since 1998, DanceSafe has been keeping the electronic music and nightlife communities safe. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we provide free harm reduction services at music festivals and nightlife events across the nation. All proceeds from the sales of our drug checking kits go back into the organization so we can continue to provide our services in our communities for free. By purchasing a kit, you are not only helping keep you and your friends safe, you are also contributing to the harm reduction movement. Thank you for your support!
