At SereniteLabs, we are working toward a more transparent and consistent way to describe our capsules. Strain names are useful, but they do not tell the whole story. Total capsule weight matters, but it can also be misleading because part of that weight comes from the capsule itself. Potency matters too, but potency alone may not fully explain how different strains feel.
That is why we are beginning to combine three things: measured potency, capsule-weight math, and structured customer experience data.
What Is the QTest?
We use the Psilocybin QTest by miraculix to estimate the potency of our dried mushroom material. Miraculix is a German testing company founded by Dr. Felix Blei, whose research focused on psilocybin biosynthesis in mushrooms. The company describes its QTests as quantitative test kits developed from academic research, including work connected to Friedrich-Schiller University in Germany.
The Psilocybin QTest is designed to estimate the concentration of psilocybin and psilocin in dried mushrooms, truffles, extracts, and related material. The result is expressed as milligrams per gram, or mg/g. In practical terms, that tells us approximately how many milligrams of measured active alkaloids are present in one gram of dried material.
How the Test Is Done
The process starts with a small, well-mixed sample of dried mushroom material. Miraculix states that the Psilocybin QTest requires 0.15 grams, or 150 mg, of dried material. The sample is combined with the kit’s reagents, then evaluated by comparing the resulting color to a reference chart or by using a photometer. Miraculix describes the test as taking about 30 minutes and allowing evaluation by eye or photometer.
The QTest is not the same as a full laboratory panel, but it gives us a practical way to estimate potency and compare batches more intelligently.
The Serenite Capsule Formula
Once we have a QTest result, we use a simple formula to estimate the active amount per capsule.
First, we subtract the estimated capsule shell weight:
Net mushroom powder per capsule = total capsule weight − 100 mg
Then we convert that powder weight into grams and multiply it by the QTest result:
Estimated dose per capsule = ((total capsule weight − 100) ÷ 1000) × potency mg/g
For example, if a capsule weighs 260 mg total, and the capsule shell weighs approximately 100 mg, then the capsule contains about 160 mg of mushroom powder.
That equals 0.16 grams.
If that material tested at 19 mg/g, then:
0.16 × 19 = 3.04 mg per capsule
This gives us a cleaner way to compare products by estimated active content rather than total capsule weight alone.
| Product | Total Capsule Weight | Net Powder / Capsule | QTest Result | Estimated Dose / Capsule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Teacher Lite | 190 mg | 90 mg | 9 mg/g | 0.81 mg |
| Makilla Gorilla | 280 mg | 180 mg | 6 mg/g | 1.08 mg |
| Hillbilly | 270 mg | 170 mg | 12 mg/g | 2.04 mg |
| Z Strain / Kinetic | 250 mg | 150 mg | 15 mg/g | 2.25 mg |
| Jack Frost | 260 mg | 160 mg | 19 mg/g | 3.04 mg |
| Avalanche | 300 mg | 200 mg | 21 mg/g | 4.20 mg |
| Old Dirty P. Envy / ODPE | 310 mg | 210 mg | 20 mg/g | 4.20 mg |
| Albino Tidal Wave – Maelstrom | 300 mg | 200 mg | 22 mg/g | 4.40 mg |
| Mammoth A.P.E “Epoch” | 310 mg | 210 mg | 22 mg/g | 4.62 mg |
Why This Matters:
Our current thesis is that potency is important, but it may not explain the full experience.
The entourage effect is the idea that a natural material’s effects may come from more than one primary active compound. In other words, two strains with similar measured potency could still feel different because of their broader chemical profile — including secondary alkaloids, trace compounds, ratios between compounds, and other measurable variables.
That is what we want to study more carefully.
By combining QTest potency data with structured experience reports, we can begin looking for patterns in onset, body feel, clarity, visuals, mood, duration, emotional tone, and overall experience. If most differences track directly with total active dose, then potency may explain most of the experience. But if dose-similar strains repeatedly produce different reported effects, that may support the idea that the entourage effect is playing a meaningful role.
Going further, if we gather enough consistent experience data to support that thesis, the next step is deeper testing. We would be able to compare dose-similar strains against a fuller panel of secondary metabolites and related compounds. Over time, that may help identify which compound combinations are associated with specific experience profiles.
The long-term goal is not to overstate what we know. It is to build a more responsible, evidence-informed language for natural therapies — one that respects both chemistry and lived experience.
