The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a new wear test protocol utilizing third body particulate debris in order to assess conventional and highly cross-linked polyethylene components. A series of tests were performed using the Boston Hip Simulator to evaluate different types of particles for possible use. Modifications to the simulator are described which ensure that the third body particles can be maintained in suspension. In this series of studies, alumina particles in a concentration of 0.15mg/cc appeared to provide the most effective challenge to the wear resistance of UHMWPE while at the same time not creating unrealistic destruction to the femoral head. In all of the experiments, under all conditions, the WIAM highly crosslinked polyethylene acetabular components resisted the effects of the third body particles and the concomitant changes in the femoral heads distinctly better than the conventional UHMWPE.