A method for rapid enumeration of Salmonella on chicken carcasses was developed. Carcass rinses were centrifuged to sediment and concentrate Salmonella and other microbial cells. After washing and resuspending the pelleted cells to 1.0 ml, Salmonella was selectively isolated and differentiated from other species by plating onto newly developed dulcitol bile novobiocin agar. Rapid lysine decarboxylase and ONPG tests were developed for biochemical confirmation of presumptive Salmonella colonies. Fully confirmed Salmonella counts were obtained within 48 h. The new method gave Salmonella counts and detection rates that were significantly higher than those found by conventional enrichment, plating procedures.