A detection method for ACK/NACK includes the steps of: (a) calculating a threshold between ACK and DTX, which includes two values, the first being proportional to a noise standard deviation after despreading the received signal, and the second depending on an estimated received signal for ACK, (b) calculating a threshold between NACK and DTX, which includes two values, the first being proportional to a noise standard deviation after despreading the received signal, and the second depending on an estimated received signal for NACK, (c) selecting the threshold with maximum absolute value from the two calculated values of the threshold between ACK and DTX, (d) selecting the one with maximum absolute value from the two calculated values of the threshold between NACK and DTX, and (e) comparing a decision variable with the two selected thresholds. An ACK/NACK detector includes a threshold generating unit used for selecting the threshold with maximum absolute value from the two calculated values of the threshold between ACK and DTX, and the threshold between NACK and DTX, respectively.