Abstract: OBJECTIVE To establish a rapid detect method for Salmonella in traditional Chinese medicine by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. METHODS Adding the traditional Chinese medicine to an appropriate amount of trypticase soy broth medium for bacteria enrichment, and the total bacterial DNA in the enrichment fluid was extracted by boiling method, then the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to specifically detect the Salmonella in the sample. RESULTS A real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella in traditional Chinese medicine was established. The detection could be completed within 24 h, sensitivity was up to per 10 g(10 mL) samples 1 cfu, and the specificity was 100%. 18 batches of samples were detected by this method and the results were identical with detected by the method described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. CONCLUSION For Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method, the detection time of Salmonella in traditional Chinese medicine preparations can significantly shorten and with good sensitivity and specificity, which can be an effective supplement of the test method included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.