Shambles
Bluelight Crew
Safer Use of RCs Thread merge, perhaps chaps? 

Testing / Verifying Compounds:
Some companies that were willing to do syntheses in the past may have been willing to get an independent lab to assay the final yield. Some countries have harm reduction services that may be able to provide some testing of compounds, though most of these probably will not be to the exacting standards that would be ideal. Even if a company is fairly reputable and say provides lab assays and an MSDS with their shipment, it is always possible that human error could have come into play. One only need read some of the forums to find out about chemical mix-ups. Probably best to have a trusted friend who is a chemistry geek skilled in chromatography.
If the compound is in something like a pill, blotter, etc. it may be harder to verify contents or rule-out it containing additional active materials.
I wouldn't want to trust my life to deciding whether a color was green or "yellow/green."
RCs aren't safe.
Wanna be safe?
Don't take them.
Deciding Whether to Become a Researcher:
I don't think I've ever heard anything so pretentious in all my life. Necking random powders you buy on the internet makes you a researcher like jogging on the freeway makes you a Buick.
Other than that little statement though, I think this article is nice for HR