A new method is presented for detection of chirp direction in ultrashort laser pulses. Based on interference autocorrelation (IAC) of the fundamental frequency signal for a first derivative, the derivative interference autocorrelation (D-IAC) is obtained. This method is highly sensitive to chirp direction. The linear chirp, square and cubic chirp pulses with Gaussian intensity are numerically calculated and simulated, and the derivative interference autocorrelation peak and the valley correspond negative and positive chirp separately. It is found the sine function factor can determine the direction of chirp. Experiments prove the chirp direction in ultrashort laser pulses can be determined by the derivative interference autocorrelation.