The kinetics of methylene blue reduction by ascorbic acid in acetonitrile was investigated by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Because of our high sensitivity we were able to use very low concentrations (1-10 nM) of the dye. Under these conditions, we observed a second-order loss of dye as well as a competing back reaction with dissolved oxygen. The use of an inexpensive diode laser and a relatively simple setup should make ultratrace kinetic studies more accessible.