Due to methodological reasons sequence analyses of the entire HBV genome were performed by direct sequencing.
Methodological quality (sequence generation, allocation concealment or blinding in the assessment of outcomes and symptom severity); Sample size (small sample size studies, eg, over 30 in each group).
This assesses six key methodological domains; sequence generation, allocation concealment, baseline comparability, intention to treat analysis and loss to follow-up and selective outcome reporting.
17 The following domains will be evaluated for methodological quality: sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of participants and outcome assessors, incomplete outcome data and selective outcome reporting.
Methodological qualities (sequence generation, allocation concealment or blinding); Sample size (small sample studies, eg, less than 40 participants in each group or large sample studies, eg, more than 40 participants in each group).
The principal decision nodes are as follows: Methodological quality (sequence generation, allocation concealment or blinding in the assessment of outcomes and symptom severity); Sample size (small sample size studies, eg, over 30 in each group).
Sensitivity analysis will be conducted according to the following criteria: Methodological qualities (sequence generation, allocation concealment or blinding); Sample size (small sample studies, eg, less than 40 participants in each group or large sample studies, eg, more than 40 participants in each group).
Furthermore as described in methodological considerations, sequences with n ≤ 8 were removed from most of the analysis, leaving us with 12764 sequences predicted to be encoded by 257 genes.
Methodological improvements in sequencing methodology that have taken place since the original publication of the data could explain the discrepancy.
