Sodium hydroxide etch test is often used as a screening test to detect detrimental intermetallic phases and allows to classify the etch structures.

Another test method consists in ferric chloride corrosion test, through procedures that are similar to those used for pitting and crevice corrosion. Test piece is immersed in the solution at constant temperature generally for 24 hours. After that the specimen is washed, rinsed and brushed to remove corrosion products. Then, weigh loss is registered and the corrosion rate , in milligrams per square decimeter per day (mdd), is calculated in accordance to total surface area and time.

Also Charpy impact test can be used as a method of detecting the precipitation of detrimental intermetallic phases in duplex stainless steels. For this particular scope the standard ASTM 923-14 provides a table about the applicability and acceptance criteria with regard to the different materials and their condition (base metal, heat-affected zone and weld metal).