A gas chromatography method using steam as the carrier gas was established for the determination of salicylic acid in plasma. A 0.5 mL plasma sample was mixed with 0.5 mL of 6N HCl and then extracted with 2 mL of dichloromethane. The dichloromethane was evaporated to dryness and the residue was redissolved in 0.5 mL of water and then analysed by gas chromatography using steam as the carrying gas. The result was calculated by external standardization.