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This study describes a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection system combined with enrichment growth conditions for simultaneous detection and identification of C. jejuni, C. coli and thermotolerant Campylobacter in poultry pack rinses. The PCR primers were tested against a range of Campylobacter and non‐Campylobacter species, and PCR products were only amplified from target organisms. The sensitivity of the method was similar to that obtained by conventional plating procedures, but when used in combination with the MPN method of enumeration could detect levels down to 6 MPN/100 ml of rinse. The validation of 50 samples of chicken pack rinses demonstrated the versatility of this approach in microbiological surveys to yield data for risk assessments.