LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
Definition
A potent synthetic hallucinogen derived from lysergic acid, itself from ergot alkaloids of Claviceps purpurea. Active at 50-200 μg. Schedule I in the US, Class A in the UK. Detected by HPLC-FLD (fluorescence Ex 325/Em 445 nm) or LC-MS/MS ([M+H]+ m/z 324).
- Precursor
- Ergot alkaloids of Claviceps purpurea
- Active dose
- 50-200 micrograms
- Legal status
- Schedule I (US), Class A (UK)
- Detection
- HPLC-FLD (Ex 325/Em 445 nm) or LC-MS/MS, [M+H]+ m/z 324
Common questions
Why is fluorescence detection well suited to LSD analysis?+
LSD's lysergic acid core fluoresces strongly, so HPLC with fluorescence detection gives high sensitivity for the very small quantities typically found on blotter paper or in biological samples, though confirmation still relies on mass spectrometry.
What makes LSD hard to detect in biological samples?+
Its extremely low active dose means blood and urine concentrations after ingestion are correspondingly tiny, so analysts need highly sensitive methods and often work within a short detection window compared with more heavily dosed drugs.
Related terms
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