A simple and convenient method of detecting N, N-dimethy laniline (D.M.A.) residues in ampicillin trihydrate (A.T.) was established. D.M.A. was extracted by chloroform from the chloroform presaturated N/10-ammonia water solution of A.T. and chromatographed on silica gel G thin layer. Blue spot appeared in 15minutes after spray of 2, 6-dichloroquinonechlorimide solution was compared with the blue spot of reference concomitantly processed. The developing solvent was prepared by mixing equal volume of cyclohexane and chloroform. To quantitate the amount of D.M.A. in A.T., T.L.C. was performed with the Eastmann Chromatogram sheet, then color density was measured by Cosmo Superclick densitometer. The developing solvent at this time was cyclohexane-chlorofonn (3+7) mixture. The peak areas obtained with the amount of D.M.A ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 .mu.g were linear to color density. Better sensitive results would be available with the densitometer equipped with monochromator.