Abstract
A colorimetric method for the estimation of acetoacetate in amounts of 1-10ug is described. The method depends on a reaction between acetoacetate and diazotized p-nitroaniline to form N, N''-bis (p-nitrophenyl)-C-acetylformazan. Under the conditions employed the reaction takes place reproducibly and quantitatively. The method was applied to the study of acetoacetate formation by suspensions of rat liver and to the measurement of aceto-arcetate levels in blood.