A 57Co-soap assay for plasma total non-esterified fatty acids compared with a gas-liquid chromatographic method

We describe a relatively rapid radiochemical assay for determining plasma non-esterified fatty acids, by use of a Dole-type (J. Clin. Invest. 35: 150, 1956) extraction and formation of 57Co soaps. Results correlated well (r = 0.957) with those by gas-liquid chromatography. The between-batch CV for 1.12 mmol of non-esterified fatty acids per liter was 7%; the sensitivity is estimated to be 22 mumol/L.