The objectives of this study were to establish a simple model based on quantitative serum markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to understand the complex immune response to HBV. Patients samples were obtained from individuals with active HBV infection (alanine transaminase ALT‐positive, aspartate aminotransferase AST‐positive and HBsAg‐positive), or patients who had recovered from infection (ALT‐negative, AST‐negative, anti‐HBs‐positive and either HBsAg, HBeAg, anti‐HBe or anti‐HBc positive). HBV quantitative markers, including HBsAg, anti‐HBs, HBeAg, anti‐HBe, and anti‐HBc, were measured using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Based on cut‐off values, anti‐HBs levels were converted to a ratio (sample value/cut‐off value, RV). Anti‐HBe and anti‐HBc levels were determined using a competition method, resulting in the use of a ratio (cut‐off value/sample value, RV) for determination of anti‐HBe and anti‐HBc values. The greater RV value in a patient was considered as a trait marker for HBV infection (TMHB) of this patient. Patients with TMHB including HBsAg or HBeAg were defined as TMHB‐Ag; and patients with TMHB including anti‐HBs, anti‐HBe, or anti‐HBc TMHB were defined as TMHB‐Ab. The percentage of patients determined to be TMHB‐Ag was 96.3% in the HBV group. The percentage of patients determined to be TMHB‐Ab was 94.7% in recovery group. TMHBs could be used to analyze different status of HBV infection. J. Med. Virol. 87:1008–1012, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.