The object of this research program was to enable us to predict very rapidly the performance of portland cement in the field in relationship to abnormal setting characteristics. A cement water leach is prepared, and the filtrates are analyzed for calcium and sulfate. A sodium (DI) ethylenediaminetetraacetate acid (EDTA) titration is used for the calcium and a turbidimetric method is used for the sulfate. Based on the results obtained with this chemical procedure, quality control methods that fairly accurately predict whether a cement contains an excessive amount of either anhydrite or plaster of paris have been prepared.