Cotton fiber is nature's purest form of cellulose (96%) and remains an important commercial commodity. New high-speed spinning techniques for yarns and chemical wet-finishing processes for fabrics place greater demands on the cotton fiber strength than ever before. Measurement of cotton fiber quality to accurately predict processing and end-use performance has become a key issue. New technology in the form of high volume instrument (HVI) quality determinations on cotton by USDA presents the industry with a transitional adjustment period. An HVI generates information on more fiber properties with greater reproducibility than are included in the traditional classification system [1]. Approximately 40% of the current cotton crop was classed by HVI, and recommendations have been made to make HVI data mandatory for the 1991 crop for cotton to be eligible for crop loans. Not unexpectedly, certain inconsistencies have been observed between measurements of strength as determined in the traditional method versus HVI testing.