The distribution of two sweet potato potyviruses, FMV and SPLV, was assessed in three plants infected with both viruses and in one plant infected with FMV only. All leaves, the top and basal sections of the main stem, and branch sections were tested by ELISA. Both symptomless leaves and leaves showing symptoms including purple rings, chlorotic spots, mottle or discoloration were found to contain the viruses. However, neither could be detected in every leaf or stem piece. SPLV was found in a lower proportion of leaf and stem samples than FMV. This indicates that the two viruses are either very unevenly distributed within sweet potato plants or that the virus concentration in some parts is below the detectable level. Testing of each leaf is recommended for reliable virus indexing of small, meristem‐derived sweet potato plantlets, if the ELISA method is used. Additional indexing of all ELISA‐negative materials by grafting to susceptible indicator plants is nevertheless still necessary.