1. The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction, widely applied to the detection of autoxidation in polyunsaturated fatty acids, can be used to measure free-radical damage to amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. 2. In all of these systems malondialdehyde (MDA) is predominately formed from intermediate precursor molecules which break down during the acid-heating stage of the TBA test. 3. The acid reagent used to bring about these decompositions appears to be critical.