Abstract: A process is provided for detecting trace amounts of a plateable metal in an aqueous fluid such as drinking water or industrial effluents. The process comprises an initial concentration step in an electrochemical plating cell whereby the metal in the fluid is deposited upon a glassy carbon plating electrode which is thereafter deplated in a second electrochemical cell wherein a porous solid test matrix impregnated with electrolyte is maintained proximate to the deplating electrode for retaining in solution the resulting metal ions formed from the deplated metal. A color indicator is then added to the test matrix to provide an indication of the presence of said metal.