The thiocyanate complexes of Pd(II), Pt(II) and Pt(IV) were studied by capillary zone electrophoresis. Pd(II) can be detected in the form of the thiocyanate complex at 305 nm with higher sensitivity than in the form of its chloro complex (absorption maximum 214 nm). A detection limit equal to 5 ppb for Pd has been finally achieved. The possibility of simultaneous determination of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) in the form of thiocyanate complexes has also been demonstrated. When the method optimized for the determination of Pt(II) was applied to the drugs Cykloplatin and Ribocarbo (containing carboplatin) and Platidiam (containing cisplatin), good agreement of the platinum content with the declared value was obtained. Samples of vehicle exhaust particulates (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, No. 8 reference material) were also analyzed.