A FCC process in which spent catalyst is stripped of hydrocarbon in a stripping zone prior to entering the regenerator. In order to maximize the amount of strippable hydrocarbon removed in the stripping zone with minimal use of stripping gas, a sample of spent catalyst is removed prior to entering the regenerator. The spent catalyst is analyzed for strippable hydrocarbon by conducting the sample to a heated catalyst collection vessel, evacuating the catalyst, collecting the gases from the collection vessel and analyzing the gases for amount of strippable hydrocarbon on the spent catalyst.