AbstractThe paper describes the measurement and calculation of the primary statistical errors in the evaluation of TLC or HPTLC using in situ reflectance measurements. The primary errors are the errors of the sample volume spotted onto the plate, errors caused by the chromatographic process itself, the positioning error of the plate with respect to the centre of the light beam and the error in the light measurement. By scanning the same spot, the same track or the same plate under different conditions, the various errors can be determined.