A measured amount of milk is treated with trichloroacetic acid to coagulate milk solids and liberate calcium and magnesium as dissociated ion. The coagulated milk is filtered or centrifuged, and an aliquot of the clear serum is titrated with a standard solution of 1 mol/L tetra-sodium EDTA to thermometrically determined endpoints for Ca and Mg. Acetylacetone is added to alter the Ca- and Mg- EDTA stability constants for better endpoint sharpness.