A column-switching liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of aspirin and salicylic acid in human plasma. Blood samples are taken into chilled tubes containing a fluoride anticoagulant, and the plasma is isolated by centrifugation. Following a simple acidification step, a 200 microL aliquot of the sample is injected directly onto the HPLC system. The C-18 extraction column is washed with acidified water for 2 min, after which time the compounds are removed by back-flushing directly onto the analytical column (C-8 Nucleosil, 5 microns, 250 mm x 4.6 mm). The flow rate through both columns is 1 mL/min, and the analytes are quantified by measurement of their UV absorbance at 225 nm. The mobile phase is a mixture of water-methanol-acetonitrile-orthophosphoric acid (650:200:150:1 v/v/v/v). The method is linear in the concentration ranges 0.10-5.00 micrograms/mL for aspirin and 0.25-15.00 micrograms/mL for salicylic acid. Both compounds have a limit of quantitation of 0.10 microgram/mL and a limit of detection of 0.04 microgram/mL. Extensive stability tests have been carried out, and validation studies reveal the method to be reproducible and repeatable. Excellent recoveries from plasma obviate the need for an internal standard. The procedure is easier to execute and requires less sample handling than methods currently described in the literature. It has been successfully applied to the investigation of the levels of aspirin and salicylic acid in a healthy, nonfasting volunteer following a 600 mg oral dose of aspirin.