Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents and capturing the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more low volume filters comprising a porous filter element comprising an area through which a fluid may flow; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.