DETERMINATION OF PLASMA FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN NEONATES BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Total fatty acids in plasma of neonates have been analysed as their me thyl esters by gas chromatography. They were separated on a capillary column coated with a SP-2380 stationary phase. As little as 100 mu l o f plasma is used for the analysis. The extraction procedure was perfor med with dichloromethane-methanol (2:1) and fatty acids were methylate d with baron trifluoride-methanol. The quantification of fatty acids i s based on an internal standard method. Absolute values (mu g fatty ac id per 100 mu l plasma) are given together with relative values (%). A t a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, the detection limits for flame ionisat ion detection are between 0.08 to 0.51 ng. The high sensitivity and pr ecision permits the effective determination of the fatty acids in neon ate plasma.