ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of recombinant culture filter protein10early secretory antigenic target 6 （rCFP10ESAT6） protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) on the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), and to develop more effective diagnostic reagents for tuberculosis. MethodsThe rCFP10ESAT6 protein was expressed and purified by metal chelation chromatography. Sera of 192 healthy persons and 210 TB patients were detected the antibodies against M. tuberculosis rCFP10ESAT6 antigens by ELISA. ResultsThe rCFP10ESAT6 protein existed in inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli, and amounted to 25% of total bacterial protein, its molecular weight was estimated about 28 kD. Of sera from 210 TB patients, the sensitivity of antibody detection using rCFP10ESAT6 protein was 30.10% (31/103) and 28.97％ (31/107) in 103 bacteriumpositive patients and 107 bacteriumnegative patients, overall sensitivity was 29.52% (62/210);of 192 healthy subjects, the sensitivity of antibody detection using rCFP10ESAT6 protein was 2.11% (2/95) in 95 PPDnegative persons and 6.19% (6/97) in 97 PPDpositive persons, respectively, overall specificity was 95.83% (184/192).ConclusionThe recombinant CFP10ESAT6 might be used as one of multiple antigens in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.