Spot Tests Flashcards
What is a spot test
A presumptive test designed to rapidly indicate what a substance may be based off an observable change
How do you perform a spot test?
By adding a small amount of a substance to the reagent and observing any color change that can indicate what the presence of a substance could be
Why don’t your results match what the officers field test says?
Our results could be different for a variety of reasons. Mine we completed in a controlled environment and many of these test can be sensitive to water. Also the amount of substance used can adjust the intensity of the color change leading to different readings. Lastly we could have simply performed different tests
Do a lot of substances turn the same color with the spot tests that you mentioned?
Yes many spot tests have multiple substances that change to the same color
How can a spot test be useful if a lot of substances result in the same color
They are useful tools to give an indication of what a substance could be. That helps us determine which testing methods would be best as not all testing methods are compatible with all substances
Can there be false positives for a spot test?
Yes there can be false positives however we only use them as a presumptive test and we use precautions to reduce the risk of false positives.
