Microgram: The Broward Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) recently received 200 blue tablets with a heart logo, suspected MDMA [...]. The tablets were seized by the Fort Lauderdale Police pursuant to a traffic stop in Fort Lauderdale. Analysis of the tablets (total net mass 50.28 grams) by GC/MS, however, indicated not MDMA but rather aspirin and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), the latter possibly as the acetate salt. A secondary analysis following derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) confirmed MDA. The tablets were not formally quantitated, but were estimated to contain between 15 and 50 milligrams of MDA each. The laboratory has seen these same tablets on several previous occasions, but this was the largest submission of them to date.

[Microgram Editor's Notes: According to the analyst, the 'acetate salt' was likely an artifact resulting from the presence of aspirin (however, N-acetyl-MDA was not identified). The analyst also suggested that the 'heart' logo was a special marketing tactic, as the various submissions of these tablets occurred around Valentine's Day.]