Abstract: HGV RN A in the sera obtained from different populations in various areas of China was detected by RT-nPCR using primers from 5′terminal region of HGV. The results showed that the neucleic acid identity in this region is 83. 6～ 89. 8% between Chinese isolates is mo re than 94% ex cepts SC obtained from SC. The data indicate that sequences of 5′ terminal region of HGV isolated from China are very concerved anddifferent from HGV reported in the United States. The 5′nonvoding region of HGV can be divided into two parts: the 5′terminal region of 250bp is conserved and the part near the core region is highly variable.