Objective:To compare the difference of serum levels of M-phospholipaseA2 receptor ( PLA2R) antibodies in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN) detected by two different methods and evaluate the diagnostic value of two methods. Methods:Patients diagnosed as membranous nephropathy and other diseases with biopsy-proven from december 2014 to october 2015 in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were enrolled and devided into IMN group and non-IMN group. The serum levels of anti-PLA2R antibody were detected by both indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results:The sensitivity of IFA and ELISA in IMN were 71. 3% and 68. 5%,and the specificities of two methods were the same as 100%. The area under ROC curves of anti-PLA2R antibody for IMN diagnosis were 0. 860 and 0. 839. The diagnostic value of IFA and ELISA was no statistically significant differences in IMN ( P>0. 05 ) , and the consistency of two methods was better (κ=0. 876). The IMN patients of positive anti-PLA2R antibody be susceptible to the low level of serum albumin (P<0. 05). The higher levels of PLA2R antibody were linked with the worse hypoproteinemia and the higher rate of nephrotic-range proteinuria in IMN patients. Conclusion:Two methods of detecting sera PLA2R antibody have higher sensitivity and specificity,so the sera anti-PLA2R antibody was a better biomarker in the diagnosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.