ISO 14184-1:2011 specifies a method for determining the amount of free formaldehyde and formaldehyde extracted partly through hydrolysis by means of a water extraction method. The method can be applied to the testing of textile samples in any form.

The procedure is intended for use in the range of free and hydrolysed formaldehyde on the fabric between 16 mg/kg and 3 500 mg/kg when determined by this method. The lower limit is 16 mg/kg. Below this limit, the result is reported as "not detectable".

A method for determination of released formaldehyde is given in ISO 14184-2:2011.