Method and kit for detecting resistance to antiviral drugs

A method for the detection of drug resistance of a retrovirus comprising:

• a) incubating a first sample comprising the retrovims with a first added quantity of a reverse transriptase inhibitor antiviral drug, an RNA template, and a first complementary DNA primer, wherein the RNA template and first complementary DNA primer are oligonucleotides from a region of the encephalomyocarditis virus genome having no significant secondary stucture and less than 50% G-C content, wherein the RNA template directs the synthesis of a DNA product, and
• b) incubating a second sample comprising the retrovirus with a second added quantity of a reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiviral drug, an RNA template, and a first complementary DNA primer, wherein the RNA template and first complementary DNA primer are oligonucleotides from a region of the encephalomyocarditis virus genome having no significant secondary structure and less than 50% G-C content, wherein the second added quantity of the reverse transriptase inhibitor drug is measurably less than the first quantity of drug used in a) and wherein the RNA template directs the synthesis of a DNA product;
• and
• c) detecting the DNA product produced in a) and b), wherein the quantity of DNA produced in a) relative to the quantity of DNA produced in b) is not reduced, thereby detecting drug resistance or the retrovirus.