Milk is highly perishable product since it provides an ideal growth medium for the micro-organisms. Therefore there is a tendency to use chemical preservatives to prevent microbial proliferation and spoilage of milk.The use of hydrogen peroxide formaldehyde neutralizers boric acid benzoic acid and salicylic acid is most commonly reported. Numbers of qualitative tests are reported buttheir comparative appraisal is not available. Similarly for particular qualitative test several variations are observed. Information on possible interference of common adulterants in detection of preservatives in milk is scanty.Therefore need was felt to make study for comparative appraisal of different qualitative tests used for detection of preservative in milk. To evaluate the effect of different variables of the procedure on performance of the test and to check the interference of commonly used adulterants on performance of qualitative test used for detection of preservatives in milk.