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STEROPEDIA

Why Colorimetric Steroid Testing Kits Are Unreliable

If you’re relying on colorimetric steroid testing kits like RoidTest to verify your gear, you might want to rethink that approach. While these kits seem quick and handy, there’s a lot that can go wrong when interpreting the results, making them far less reliable than you might hope.

Why Colors Can Trick You

Here’s the deal: reading those colors isn’t as easy as it seems. Tiny shifts in hue, lighting conditions in your room, or even personal differences in eyesight can completely throw off your interpretation. It’s not just beginners—experienced users also struggle to consistently match colors accurately.

Those Subtle Shades are Problematic

Plenty of user reviews mention just how frustrating it is when colors look almost identical. Take testosterone derivatives like Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone Enanthate, and Testosterone Propionate—these are pretty much different shades of the same color. You’ve probably noticed this yourself, making it impossible to confidently distinguish one from the other using these tests.

Reacting with Too Many Things

Here’s another issue: these color tests react not just to your intended steroid, but also to chemically similar substances. So, a reaction doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting pure testosterone—it might mean something similar but potentially different. This broad reaction means you might trust a false positive.

Real-Life Experiences and Science Agree

Both research and experienced users confirm the limitations of these tests. According to official ROIDTEST documentation, colorimetric tests are “presumptive only,” meaning they’re preliminary checks rather than definitive. Science backs this up, emphasizing that accurate identification requires advanced laboratory methods like Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

Practical Example to Consider

Just look at the color chart you’ve probably seen yourself. Different testosterone types barely differ in their shades, leaving you guessing rather than knowing for sure.

When Color Tests Can Actually Help

These color tests do have a practical use: they can be handy as an initial prescreening tool if you’re suspicious your preworkout might be contaminated with steroids like methandienone (methandrostenolone). Believe it or not, this happened historically, especially among Olympic lifters who unknowingly consumed steroids in supplements. If your test comes back positive, that’s your signal to get it checked out with a proper lab test.

A Better Way

The only truly valid ways to determine exactly what’s in your supplements or gear are more advanced laboratory methods like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Sure, these tests are more involved, but if you want certainty about what you’re putting in your body, they’re absolutely worth it.

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