Histopathological examination of the liver is the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis; however, it is an invasive test with potential complications and is not easily accepted by patients, and the progress and efficacy of the disease cannot be dynamically observed. In recent years, it has become a trend to use a combination of serological and clinical indicators to establish a non-invasive diagnostic model to determine the degree of fibrosis. The aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) and the Forns index are noninvasive diagnostic models that have been used abroad in recent years to diagnose the degree of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. In this study, these 2 models were applied to chronic hepatitis B in China with the aim of verifying their clinical value in diagnosing the degree of hepatic fibrosis in slow hepatitis B. Data Study population There were 172 patients with chronic hepatitis B hospitalized in our department between June 2006 and March 2008, and the diagnosis was in accordance with the Viral Hepatitis Control Program developed at the Xi’an Conference in 2000 [6]. Patients had positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBVDNA) for at least 6 months prior to enrollment, had an average age of 35 (15-68) years, 133 were male and 39 were female, had no history of antiviral and antihepatic fibrosis drug therapy, and co-infection with hepatitis A, C, D, or E virus was excluded. All patients underwent liver histopathological examination, and serum was collected for relevant indexes. Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected and recorded on the day of liver biopsy or the day before. Methods Laboratory tests γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total cholesterol (Tch) were measured by fully automated biochemical analyzer, and platelet (PLT) was measured by fully automated hematocrit analyzer. Histological examination After routine preoperative laboratory tests, if there were no contraindications, liver puncture biopsy was performed with the patient’s signed informed consent for liver puncture biopsy. Conventional 1-second aspiration biopsy with a 19G disposable liver puncture needle or common liver puncture needle was performed under ultrasound Doppler localization guidance, requiring liver tissue of 1.5 cm or more in length and 10% formaldehyde fixation. Liver tissue was fixed, dehydrated, paraffin-embedded, and sectioned and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin according to the routine operation. Liver fibrosis was divided into five stages i.e. SO: no fibrosis; S1: expanded fibrosis in the confluent area with limited perisinusoidal and intralobular fibrosis; S2: fibrosis around the confluent area with formation of fibrous septa and preservation of lobular structures; S3: fibrous septa with disorganized lobular structures without cirrhosis; S4: early cirrhosis [6]. The films were read independently by 2 pathologists blinded, and repeated readings were performed to reach consensus in case of inconsistent diagnosis. Calculation: APRI=AST(ULN)/PLT(109/L)×100 [2, 3]; Forns index=7.811-3.131×logePLT(109/L)+0.781×logeGGT(U/L)+3.467×loge age(years)-0.014×Tch(mmol/L) [4, 5 ]. Statistical treatment Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0. The measures were expressed as x(-) soil s. Three determination points were set according to the liver fibrosis stage, and liver fibrosis was classified as no or mild liver fibrosis (S0-S1 stage), significant liver fibrosis (S2-S4 stage) and cirrhosis (S4 stage). The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to find the best diagnostic value corresponding to the maximum sum of sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) on the ROC curve, and the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.