Performance of LigAmp assay for sensitive detection of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus minor variants in comparison with standard nucleotide sequencing.

Background And Objectives: A virus population often exists as a complex mixture of genetic populations. Antiviral-resistant mutants could be circulating as minority variants in the mixed virus population that are not detected by standard sequencing methods. The role of minor drug-resistant variants and clinical outcome is slowly evolving and there is a need to employ sensitive methods for detection of minority variants that emerge as dominant species and subsequently affect the antiviral efficacy.