Technique for the early detection of drug-resistant HBV DNA during antiviral therapy

Early detection of antiviral resistant mutants is of clinical importance in patients receiving antiviral treatment. The ideal assay is sensitive, specific, accurate, reproducible and easy to perform, attains a high throughput and is able to detect mixed and novel mutations. Advantages and disadvantages of sequencing, line probe assay, DNA chip technology, peptide nucleic acid cramping, fluorescent biprobe hybridization and a new technique based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometric analysis will be discussed.