Objective To investigate the value of retention rate of indocyanine green at fifteen minutes (ICGR15) during hemihepatectomy for evaluation of residual liver reserve function in patients with primary liver carcinoma. Methods During hemihepatectomy, ICGR15 was tested in 44 patients after the hepatic artery and portal vein of resected side were ligated. Child-Pugh score, Child-Pugh classification, and MELD score before operation were tested. After operation, the liver function condition was estimated. Results The incidence of liver dysfunction was significantly lower in ICGR15lt;10% group (17.9%, 5/28) than that in 10%~15% group (75.0%, 12/16), Plt;0.05. There was no significant difference of Child-Pugh score among normal liver function group, mild insufficiency of liver function group, and severe insufficiency of liver function group （Pgt;0.05）. ICGR15 and MELD score in normal liver function group were statistical lower than those in mild insufficiency of liver function group and severe insufficiency of liver function group (Plt;0.05). ICGR15 was significantly lower in Child-Pugh A group than that in Child-Pugh B group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Intraoperative residual liver ICGR15 may be more precisely compared with Child-Pugh score in evaluation liver reserve function for the patients with primary liver carcinoma and can help to guide liver resection.