Abstract: A method for carrying out a nucleic acid hybridization test to detect a target nucleic acid sequence, the method including the steps of(1) providing a polymer molecule bonded to a first single-stranded nucleic acid sequence which is either (a) a first probe capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid sequence, or (b) a second nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridizing to a third nucleic acid sequence bonded to a first probe capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid sequence; provided that, where the polymer molecule comprises DNA, the DNA is of heterogeneous base sequence;(2) where the polymer used in step (1) is bonded to (b), providing the first probe bonded to the third nucleic acid sequence;(3) denaturing the target nucleic acid sequence;(4) contacting the denatured target nucleic acid sequence with the polymer molecule bonded to the first single-stranded nucleic acid sequence and, if the first nucleic acid sequence is (b), to the first probe bonded to the third nucleic acid sequence; and(

Abstract: A probe for the detection, in a sample obtained from the mouth of a human patient, of a microbial or human cell associated with a human oral medical disorder, the probe consisting essentially of a segment of DNA or RNA capable of selectively hybridizing, under hybridizing conditions, to single-stranded DNA of the cell.