A portable substance identification system and method are configured to identify at least one detection target faster and with greater accuracy than is possible using prior substance identification systems and/or prior substance identification techniques. An embodiment of the portable substance identification system includes a portable substance identification device containing a Raman spectrometer, and a collection stem that includes a dry collector. One or more reservoirs for a liquid medium and/or a reagent can be formed in a cartridge that is configured to couple with a portable substance identification device. The cartridge has a chamber in which the reagent, liquid medium, and a detection target picked up by the dry collector are mixed. A magnet, positioned at a slant angle, can be used to form at least one pellet of aggregated magnetic particles within a pellet forming area of the chamber. The pellet is formed to maximize its surface area.