Organic acid profiles of human tissue biopsies by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method is described to determine the organic acid content of tissue specimens comparable in size to those obtainable by closed biopsy. The method involves solvent extraction of tissue homogenates followed by analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives of the organic acids by combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Organic acid profiles of human liver, pancreas, kidney and muscle are shown.