Ascertaining imaging cycle life of a photoreceptor

A process for ascertaining the projected imaging cycle life of an electrophotographic imaging member including the steps of (a) providing at least one electrophotographic imaging member having a cycling life of a known number of imaging cycles, the imaging member comprising an electrically conductive layer and at least one photoconductive layer, (b) repeatedly subjecting the electrophotographic imaging member to cycles comprising electrostatic charging and light discharging steps, (c) measuring dark decay of the photoconductive layer during cycling until the amount of dark decay reaches a crest value, (d) establishing with the crest value a reference datum for dark decay crest value versus imaging cycles, (e) repeatedly subjecting a virgin electrophotographic imaging member to aforesaid cycles comprising electrostatic charging and light discharging steps until the amount of dark decay reaches a crest value which remains substantially constant during further cycling, and (f) comparing the dark decay crest value of the virgin electrophotographic imaging member with the reference datum to ascertain the projected cycling life of the virgin electrophotographic imaging member.