Objective     To evaluate the correlations of hepatitis B virus nucleic acid related antigen (HBV NRAg)

HBeAg and HBV DNA in HBsAg positive patients and to investigate the value of HBV NRAg in evaluating HBV replication.      Methods       A total of 157 serum samples were collected from HBsAg positive patients

and the levels of HBV NRAg

HBeAg and HBV DNA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and real-time PCR respectively. ELISA detection of HBV NRAg was also performed in 188 HBsAg-negative serum samples.      Results       In HBsAg-positive serum

the positive rates of HBV NRAg

HBeAg

and HBV DNA were 75.79%(119/157)

37.57%(59/157)

and 51.59%(81/157) respectively. HBV NRAg positive rate was significantly different as compared with HBeAg and HBV DNA (Chi square=19.88

P＝0.000; Chi square=46.69

P＝0.000). HBV NRAg S/CO value was positively correlated with HBeAg S/CO value and HBV DNA genomic copy number in HBeAg positive cases and HBV DNA positive cases

respectively (r=0.506

P=0.000; r=0.499

P=0.000). HBV NRAg as an evaluation index for virus replication was in good concordance with the combined indices of HBeAg and HBV DNA (Kappa=0.52). The positive coincidence rate was 94.79%

and the total coincidence rate was 78.98%. Test specificity of HBV NRAg ELISA was 99.40%.      Conclusion       HBV NRAg can be used as a preliminary screening index for clinical evaluation of HBV replication and monitoring of hepatitis B treatment outcome for hospitals at all levels.