Two simple, sensitive, selective, accurate and precise methods (Methods A and B) have been developed for the quantitative estimation of ganciclovir in bulk drug and its pharmaceutical formulations. In Method A, presence of amino group in ganciclovir enables the use of condensation reaction with p-dimethylamino benzaldehyde, forming the greenish yellow colored complex due to the formation of Schiff's base. It shows absorption maximum at 401 nm and obeying Beer's law in the concentration range 80-200 mu g mL(-1). Method B is based on the formation of reaction with 1,2-naphtha quinine-4-sulphonic acid sodium salt (Folin's Reagent), exhibiting absorption maximum at 544 nm and obeying Beer's law in the concentration range 4-14 mu g mL(-1). The results of analysis for both the methods have been validated statistically and by recovery studies. These results have been compared with those obtained by using UV spectrophotometric methods developed in our laboratory.