The study aimed to assess a new technique using gene microarray technology to measure lamivudine-resistant mutants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients' serum.
The research involved 51 patients on lamivudine treatment, monitoring them for 24 months with both microarray and traditional sequencing methods to identify resistance mutations.
Results showed that 39% of patients developed resistance to lamivudine, with the microarray method being as accurate as traditional sequencing but more sensitive in detecting mixed infections.