Advances and Challenges in LSD Detection: Analytical Techniques, Matrix Selection, and Validation Gaps in Forensic Toxicology
Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry November 4, 2025 Diksha Thakur, Neeti Prakash Dubey, Rajvinder Singh et al.
Detecting LSD in biological samples is difficult because the drug is taken in very small amounts, breaks down quickly in the body, and resembles other similar compounds. This review examined published analytical methods from 1978 to 2025 for measuring LSD and its metabolites in blood, urine, hair, oral fluid, and vitreous humor. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the most sensitive and widely validated technique, but there are inconsistencies in how methods are validated for different sample types and in how they account for sample degradation. Few studies meet modern forensic validation standards, which limits the reliability of results in legal cases. The review identifies a need for standardized, rapid, and environmentally friendly methods that can detect LSD and its analogs at extremely low levels.