[A new method for determination of nicotinic acid in plasma]

A new and sensitive method for the detection of nicotinic acid in plasma is described. Human or rat plasma-samples from pharmacological or pharmacokinetic studies are lyophilized and extracted with methanol. After removal of the solvent the residue is converted with N-Methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoracetamide to the trimethylsilylester of nicotinic acid, separated by vpc and detected with a mass selective detector via the fragment 180 amu. 6-Methyl-nicotinic acid is used as internal standard (fragment 194 amu). With this method a detection limit of 100 ng/ml plasma is reached.