The classical method for typing and subtyping individual hepatitis B viruses (HBV) is serotyping. Although serotyping has generally been useful for determining antigenic distinctions among viruses, some limitations have been observed. For example, some viruses, such as measles and cytomegalovirus (CMV), do not have significant antigenic differences and cannot be divided into types and subtypes. In addition, serotyping does not usually have the ability to distinguish individual isolates within a serotype. Molecular methods can circumvent such limitations and allow comprehensive and precise characterization of individual viruses.
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