Abstract: Objective：To assess the diagnostic value of immunoblot assay for anti-double stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibodies and anti-nucleosome antibodies (ANuA), and crithidia luciliae based indirect immunofluorescence for anti-ds-DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods：The levels of anti-ds-DNA antibodies and ANuA in sera of 166 patients in active stage of SLE (including initial and recurrent patients) were detected by immunoblotting, crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The values of qualitative detections for anti-ds-DNA antibodies and ANuA in diagnosing SLE were evaluated taking ELISA as standard. Results：The positive coincident rate of immunoblotting for anti-ds-DNA antibodies and ANuA was 73.33% and 66.28%, respectively. The positive coincident rate of crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test for anti-ds-DNA antibodies was 68.57%. The positive coincident rates of immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescent assay were both decreased with titers of anti-ds-DNA antibodies and ANuA (P<0.05). Conclusions：The positive rates in diagnosis of SLE are not ideal using qualitative assays for ds-DNA antibody and ANuA, therefore, qualitative assay is recommended to be applied based on ELISA.