Aim A method to determining CD36 antigen gene expression in periphery blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMNL)is established. Methods The expression of CD36 antigen gene was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR)with β actin as the internal standard. RT PCR products were quantified by gel scanning. Results The gel electrophoresis revealed that the molecular weight of CD36 antigen RT PCR products was 390bp, that of β actin was 540bp. It is a stable method that CD36 antigen gene expression was expressed by CD36 antigen/β actin . The gene expression was significantly enhanced in the patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusion RT PCR is an ideal method to determine expression of CD36 antigen gene, which might be used in the study of atherosclerosis.