Psilocybe cubensis is the most common species of fungus with psychedelic characteristics giving rise to their nickname, “magic mushrooms”. The main active components have been deduced through chemical analysis to be psilocybin and the phosphorylated derivative psilocin. Psilocybin has no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse and is listed as a Controlled Substances Act Schedule I substance by the U.S. DEA. Identification of hallucinogenic fungi evidence remains an important task in forensic analysis related to criminal proceedings ranging from questionable deaths to illegal importation/exportation. Current methods include macroscopic and microscopic visualization, presumptive identification using Marquis' and Froehde’s colorimetric test reagents and confirmatory determination using TLC and gas and liquid chromatography. We demonstrate a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction high resolution melt (qPCR-HRM) assay to detect trace biological material from P. cubensis as an inexpensive alternative for situations where collected samples are too scarce for conventional analytical drug testing methods.

Identification and quantitation of Psilocybe cubensis DNA using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction high resolution melt (qPCR-HRM) assay

254th National Meeting (2017)

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