A terbium-sensitized spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of dopamine (DA) using an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). This method is based on the sensitized fluorescence of terbium (III) when excited in the presence of DA because a Tb (III).DA complex is formed. A pronounced enhancement of intensity was observed when SDBS was added to the Tb (III).DA complex. Under the optimum conditions, the present method showed good stability and reproducibility within the range of 2.5 × 10^(-9) - 1.0 × 10^(-7) mol L^(-1) of DA with a detection limit of 7.5 × 10^(-10) mol L^(-1). Therefore, the proposed method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of dopamine in pharmaceutical preparations and serum sample.