Editing LSD (section)

===Detection===
[[File:LSD Ehrlich reagent test.jpg|thumb|[[Ehrlich's reagent]] can be used to test for the presence of LSD in a sample, turning purple upon reaction.<ref name="LSDEMCDDA">{{cite web |url=https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/lsd_en |title=Lysergide (LSD) drug profile |website=[[European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction]] (EMCDDA) |access-date=15 May 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202152854/https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/lsd_en |archive-date=2 February 2023}}</ref>]]

LSD can be detected in concentrations larger than approximately 10% in a sample using [[Ehrlich's reagent]] and [[Hofmann's reagent]]. However, detecting LSD in human tissues is more challenging due to its active dosage being significantly lower (in [[micrograms]]) compared to most other drugs (in [[milligrams]]).<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite journal | vauthors = Appel JB, Whitehead WE, Freedman DX |date= July 1968 |title=Motivation and the behavioral effects of LSD |journal=Psychonomic Science |language=en |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=305–306 |doi=10.3758/BF03331322 |s2cid=144527673 |issn=0033-3131|doi-access=free }}</ref>

LSD may be quantified in urine for drug testing programs, in plasma or serum to confirm poisoning in hospitalized victims, or in whole blood for forensic investigations. The parent drug and its major metabolite are unstable in biofluids when exposed to light, heat, or alkaline conditions, necessitating protection from light, low-temperature storage, and quick analysis to minimize losses.<ref>R. Baselt, ''Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man'', 12th edition, Biomedical Publications, Foster City, CA, 2020, pp. 1197–1199.</ref> Maximum plasma concentrations are typically observed 1.4 to 1.5 hours after oral administration of 100&nbsp;μg and 200&nbsp;μg, respectively, with a plasma half-life of approximately 2.6 hours (ranging from 2.2 to 3.4 hours among test subjects).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dolder PC, Schmid Y, Steuer AE, Kraemer T, Rentsch KM, Hammann F, Liechti ME | title = Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects | journal = Clinical Pharmacokinetics | volume = 56 | issue = 10 | pages = 1219–1230 | date = October 2017 | pmid = 28197931 | doi = 10.1007/s40262-017-0513-9 | pmc = 5591798 }}</ref>

Due to its potency in microgram quantities, LSD is often not included in standard pre-employment urine or hair analyses.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="pmid36753839">{{cite journal |vauthors=Jiaming Z, Xin W, Jiali Z, Hang R, Yunli Z, Ping X |title=Concentrations of LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, and iso-LSD in hair segments of 18 drug abusers |journal=Forensic Science International |volume=344 |date=March 2023 |pmid=36753839 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111578| s2cid=256574276}}</ref> However, advanced [[liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry]] methods can detect LSD in biological samples even after a single use.<ref name="pmid36753839"/>