Spot tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS), Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NRM), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and extractions were performed on standard and pharmaceutical steroids. Mandelin's spot test, accompanied by the sulfuric acid test, provided the best indication of a steroid among the following four spot tests performed: sulfuric acid, napthol-sulfuric acid, Liebermann's, and Mandelin's. TLC was successfully performed on the steroid samples by using two eluent systems: TP and TQ. GC/MS was a useful method of analysis applicable to most steroids, with only a few exceptions. FT-IR spectra were found to match the spectra from the literature for all the standards tested. The combination of the above techniques was used successfully in the identification of all the standards tested. These techniques can thus be used to identify all the steroid compounds. 22 figures and 5 references (Author abstract modified)