The results of an inter/intra-laboratory study into a test and reference reaction for isothermal microcalorimeters, the imidazole catalysed hydrolysis of triacetin, have been reported in a recent paper [Thermochim. Acta 380 (2001) 13]. The results and conclusions drawn from this study have been extended to a consideration of the need for a similar test and reference reaction for isothermal microcalorimeters operating in flow mode. This paper reports the findings of a preliminary inter/intra-laboratory study of the base catalysed hydrolysis of methyl 4-hydroxy benzoate (methyl paraben) and its suitability as a test and reference reaction. The derived values for the hydrolysis reaction were (3.15 +/- 0.11) x 10(-4) s(-1) and -50.5 +/- 4.3 kJ mol(-1) for the rate constant and enthalpy, respectively. It is also reported how such a test and reference reaction can be used to validate the thermal output from a LKB 10-700-1 and Thermometric Thermal Activity Monitor (TAM) 2277-202 flow microcalorimeters.