How to use fentanyl test strips for powders or pills

Fentanyl is a drug that is often used medically to relieve pain. Only extremely small doses are needed to have an effect and a few micrograms extra can cause an overdose.

This is why, if you’re not expecting fentanyl, you might unexpectedly overdose.

Fentanyl test strips can help you find out if your drugs contain fentanyl. We use Dancesafe fentanyl test strips.

You can order fentanyl test strips for free from our resource page, or you can buy fentanyl test strips online from the Needle Exchange and The Hempstore. 

Watch our quick guide above on how to use Dancesafe fentanyl test strips, or read on. Note that this demo uses a green sugar pill. No drugs are involved in this demo.

1. Crush and shake to create an even mix

2. Get a clean container and fill it with 1mL of water 

This is just enough to cover the bottom of a bottle cap.

3. Put about 10mg of the sample in the water

This is about the size of a matchstick head and a microscoop can help.

 

 

4. Stir until dissolved

 

5. Hold the yellow end of the fentanyl test strip and put it the other end into the liquid, no higher than the wavy lines.

Wait 15 seconds to allow the liquid to travel up the strip.

 

 

6. Remove the strip and put it on a flat surface

In about three minutes the results will show.

 

7. Find out what you have

Two red lines indicate that fentanyl is not present.

One red line indicates that fentanyl is present.

No red lines indicates that the test did not work. Do it again with a new strip.

Contact (04) 801 6303 or email drugchecking@drugfoundation.org.nz to discuss test strip results or if you have any other questions.