The electrochemically initiated reaction of thiols with N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine has been coupled with an existing colorimetric sensing reaction developed by Ellman as a means of providing an electrochemical adaptation of the latter whereby the total thiol species present in a sample can be determined. The detection methodology has been proven to be robust with a linear range for cysteine from 2-120 microM, a limit of detection of 1.17 microM and has shown selectivity against a wide range of potential interferences. The efficiency of the methodology has been examined in the determination and recovery of thiol species in three growth tissue media, which contain a number of common biological interferences.