This article presents highlights of a study conducted to determine the applicability of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection as a rapid screening technique for the isolation,identification, and quantification of anatoxin-a, a neurotoxin produced by certain strains of Anabaena flos-aquea. A normal phase Silica-A column with an 80 percent solution of isopropanol in hexane or a C18 reverse phase column with an 80 percent aqueous solution of acetonitrile gave good separation. This study also showed the applicability of the HPLC technique for isolating and analyzing the nonpurgeable and nonvolatile natural organic compounds in water. Includes 7 references, figures.