A new micro method for the estimation of serum total fatty acids

(1) A new micro method is described for determination of serum total fatty acids which is based upon extraction of the fatty acids, after hydrolysis, into heptane and titration with standard NaOH. (2) Duplicate estimations on nineteen different serum samples showed differences of between 0.6 and 8.9% (Mean 3.2%). (3) Comparison of the present method with the Stoddard and Drury precipitation method on twelve different serum samples gave slightly lower values with the former with a mean difference of 2.2% (S.E. ± 0.8) between the results. (4) The method gave between 98 and 103% recovery of stearic acid from a standard solution and between 98.5 and 107% from a mixture of stearic acid and serum. (5) The serum fatty acids.