Evaluation of sodium hypochlorite as a screening reagent for the identification of cocaine.

The effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite, or commercial household bleach, as a screening test for the presence of cocaine in illicit drug specimens was evaluated. The advantages of using this reagent in an undercover situation are described, and the experience of undercover agents and law enforcement officers indicate that the test is simply and reliably interpreted. Chemical analyses of the sodium hypochlorite reaction product demonstrated the utility of this test as an adjunct in the identification of cocaine for forensic purposes.