In literature there are many articles and documents discussing possible single PEMFC test protocols and some attempts to identify a good procedure to which conform, e.g. "single cell test protocol" (USFCC) or "PEFC testing procedures" (FCTESTNET). The Hydrogen System Laboratory (HySyLab) has identified an internal test protocol for a good PEMFC characterisation. In the paper the procedure is illustrated in all its aspects: the assembly, the conditioning and the characterisation of a single PEMFC through polarisation curves under different conditions of temperature, pressure and relative humidity. Other aspects like internal resistance and pressure drops are studied. The HySyLab procedure permits to obtain reproducible and excellent performances with commercial MEAs and PEMFCs tested in laboratory (2200 mA cm(-2) at 0.4 V at 70 degrees C cell temperature, 100%RH, ambient pressure, lambda(air) = 2.5 and lambda(H2) = 1.5). (C) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.