The addition of alkaline material (usually lime) to treated municipal sludge can be used to raise the pH to ⩾12 and generate Class A or B biosolids. When lime is added to dewatered sludge, it must first be made into a slurry before the pH can be measured to demonstrate regulatory compliance. In this study, pH 12 was achieved in slurries prepared from lime-amended dewatered sludge, even when the lime was poorly incorporated and relatively high fecal coliform levels were detected. Thus, quantitative indicators of lime incorporation are needed to complement slurry pH measurements and ensure that sufficient contact occurs between lime and sludge particles to achieve adequate stabilization. In this study, the usefulness of several potential measures of lime incorporation—pH, CO2 consumption, distribution of calcium, fecal coliforms, NH3 and reduced sulfur compound production, and ATP—was systematically evaluated using a bench-scale system. Sludge pH and CO2 consumption were not influenced by the extent of lime incorporation. The distribution of calcium and fecal coliform levels appear to be useful measures of lime incorporation. NH3 and reduced sulfur compound emissions and ATP levels can also be used to assess lime incorporation provided recommended experimental techniques are used.