If you need the actual area loss for structural analysis, then you should check this by destructive means or by self calibrated techniques listed above. If you do not calibrate the tests (be it any test), the results will not be reliable.
There is a technique based on the potential difference of steel. You can refer to Eng. Antonio Bossio, who is on Research Gate, i.e. by reading the following papers:
Structural modeling and monitoring of corrosion
A Bossio, M Montuori, F Bellucci, G P Lignola, A Prota, E Cosenza, G Manfredi
Indirect measure of corrosion level based on crack opening.
Antonio Bossio, Mario Montuori, Francesco Bellucci, Gian Piero Lignola, Andrea Prota, Edoardo Cosenza, Gaetano Manfredi