Fluorescent contaminants have been observed when stock solutions of phosphate buffered saline solutions at each of three pH values (2.2, 7.5, and 12.5) are analyzed after passing through commercially available filter paper. The filtrate's fluorescence was observed to exhibit a maximum signal at 440.0 nm when excited at 365 nm. Detection of trace components could have significant implications in the design and implementation of sample processing protocols when using fluorescence.