Surface electrochemical behaviour of a self-immobilised iron phthalocyanine (FePc) ultrathin film, via axial ligation reaction, onto a preformed 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode has been described. Electrochemical evidence for the sensor clearly suggested surface-confined, flat "umbrella"-oriented and densely-packed monolayer film structure. The proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of thiocyanate in pH 4.0 medium over a linear range of three decades of concentration (ca. 10(-6)-10(-3) mol dm(-3)) with a detection limit in the order of similar to 10(-7) mol dm(-3). The sensor exhibited useful potential for the analysis of thiocyanate in human urine and saliva samples. The advantageous properties of this type of electrode as a sensor for thiocyanate lie in its ease of fabrication, excellent catalytic activity, stability, sensitivity and simplicity. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.