Chromatographic data derived from silica gel layers on flexible films and glass fiber sheets are not always comparable with such derived from silica gel coated glass plates in given solvent systems. The presently availble films and sheets with silica gel layers are compared with handcoated silica gel plates on ten selected acidic, neutral and basic drugs of toxicological interest, in two representative solvent systems. Reported are running rates, relative running rates, solvent mobilities and general characteristics of the different media.