Objective To establish a method of polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for detection of reticuloendotheliosis virus(REV).Methods The genomic DNA extracted from SPF chick embryo fibroblasts(CEFs) infected with REV-T and SNV was used as the template,followed amplification by primers from the long terminal repeats(LTR) of provirus.Consequently,the tissues from tumor-bearing chickens,as well as liver,spleen,kidney,heart,thymus and bursa from chickens on day 28 after having artificially been inoculated REV,were collected.Parts of the whole tissues were subjected to DNA extraction for PCR.The others were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and also immunohistochemical staining(IHC).Reslts Nothing amplified from REV-T was detected on agarose gel by electrophoresis.A specific and clear band sized about 300 bp was showed after amplification from SNV.Moreover,specific bands were detected by PCR of the tissues of birds infected with SNV.The tumor tissues,appearance and distribution of tumor cells were observed by histopathology(HE and histochemical staining).Conclusion The PCR is a specific and rapid technique for detection of reticuloendotheliosis virus.