An integrated circuit is presented including a protection diode including a plurality of first gates and a plurality of first source/drain (S/D) contacts and a device under test (DUT) including a plurality of second gates and a plurality of second S/D contacts, the DUT being electrically connected to the protection diode by either at least one gate contact or at least on CA contact or at least one buried power rail (BPR). The protection diode is electrically connected to the DUT by middle-of-line (MOL) layers for gate oxide protection before M1 formation.