A simple and sensitive method is described for the determination of platinum surface contamination originating from cisplatin,carboplatin and oxaliplatin. Following extraction from swabs and preconcentration with the cloud point extraction (CPE) method, detection was by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). After desorption of platinum compounds from the swab, CPE involved on preconcentration of platinum in aqueous solution with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) as chelating agent and Triton (R) X-114 as extraction medium. DDTC is not only a chelating agent, but may also be a good candidate for the inactivation of platinum compounds. DDTC is recommended by the Word Health Organization (WHO) for the destruction of platinum-based anticancer drugs. The main factors affecting CPE efficiency, pH of the sample solution, concentrations of DDTC and Triton (R) X-114, equilibration temperature and incubation time, were evaluated in order to enhance sensitivity of the method. The desorption of platinum compounds from the swab was investigated in parallel. Since platinum is bound to DDTC, it must exchange with copper in order to enhance platinum atomizing by GFAAS. A preconcentration factor of 29 was obtained for 10 mL of a platinum solution at 10 mu gmL(-1). In optimal conditions, the limit of detection was 0.2 ng mL(-1), corresponding to 2.0 ng of platinum metal on the swab. Absorbance was linear between 0.7 and 15 ng mL(-1). The proposed method was applied for the determination of surface contamination by platinum compounds with correct results. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.