A method for analyzing one or more nitrogen-containing compounds, in which the one or more nitrogen-containing compounds are contacted with hydrindantin at an elevated temperature in a contact zone is provided. In the method ninhydrin is contacted with one or more reducing agents in a heating zone at a first elevated temperature to produce a hydrindantin-containing mixture. The hydrindantin-containing mixture is introduced into the contact zone and contacted with the nitrogen-containing compounds at a second elevated temperature. The method is particularly suitable for the analysis by visualization of amino acids.