Technical Abstract: Cotton fiber properties are strongly dependent on the moisture content in the fiber matrix. The standard test methods for moisture in lint cotton are almost all based on oven drying. All of the loss in weight by oven drying, due to moisture and other volatiles, is attributable to moisture. The U.S. cotton industry questions the reliability of the oven drying test and has requested that this laboratory develop improved standard test methods. The approach taken in this paper is to review the importance of moisture to the industry, the standard test methods by oven drying, present new quality control measures to ensure the laboratory techniques are in control, and compare oven drying results with preliminary results using the Karl Fischer technique. The practical implications of the review of the oven drying method is that it confirms the need by the industry for improved standard test methods for moisture in cotton. There is a lack of information regarding the accuracy of the oven drying techniques. Two new quality control measures are presented to help assure that the weight data is independent of drift or bias in the analytical balance and environmental changes. As expected, oven drying and Karl Fischer results showed differences in moisture contents.