For spinal screws, loading is done through cantilever bending. The threaded section of the screw should be embedded into a 10 mm long synthetic test block, to which the axial load will be applied. The head of the screw is then restrained using an anchoring fixture attached to the testing system. Typically, screws should have 10 mm of their length embedded into the test block, leaving around 5 mm of threads exposed between the block and the anchored head. For smaller screws, approximately one-third of the screw's entire length should be embedded in the test block. By applying force at the middle of the test block (5 mm from the end of the screw), all screws of a certain length — regardless of diameter — should experience the same acting moment.

Static tests should be carried out with a loading rate no greater than 25 mm/min, for a minimum of 5 samples, to create load-versus-displacement graphs.

Fatigue tests should be completed with a sinusoidal waveform at a maximum of 30 Hz and an R ratio of 0.1 for thoracic and lumbar screws. Again, an R ratio of -1.0 should be used for cervical screws. The procedure should then follow the same approach as the other two components: at least 2 specimens tested at each load level, 3 load levels used to create 6 data points, a maximum of 2,500,000 cycles, and 75%, 50%, and 25% of the static yield moment acting as starting points for loading values.

For all components, testing can be completed in other environments (namely saline solution) with justification and quotation of characteristics such as temperature, pH, and solution strength.