Indocyanine green 1 (ICG) is a tricarbocyanine dye (Figure 1) which has been used in the indicator dilution technique for measuring cardiac output (1, 2). Animal studies (3) and preliminary observations of human subjects (4, 5) have suggested that this dye may have characteristics that could make its uptake, storage, and excretion by the liver helpful indices of hepatic function. The present investigations were carried out to determine whether indocyanine green has properties that may render it suitable for assessing liver function and hepatic blood flow in man.METHODS AND PROCEDURES Physical properties. Indocyanine green was prepared for intravenous administration by dissolving the dye in distilled water to a concentration of 5 mg per ml. Readings of dye concentration were made in a Beckman DU spectrophotometer at 815 m/1.Volume of distribution of radioiodinated human serum albumin 2 was compared with the initial volume of distribution of ICG in 4 normal subjects. Each subject was given approximately 20 /Ac of the I3"-labeled albumin and 50 mg of ICG in a rapid intravenous injection. Venous samples were taken at intervals during the following *

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