A method for the quantitation of small amounts of phospholipids derived from biological sources is described. Total phospholipid is determined by mineralization followed by the estimation of liberated phosphate by means of malachite green. The main phospholipid species are separated by one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The individual phospholipids are detected by charring with CuSO4/H3PO4. They may be directly quantitated by scanning the thin-layer chromatography plates with a laser densitometer.