Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence associated with AIDS in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hybridization probe to the amplified product either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support.

Abstract: Improved methods for amplifying nucleic acids can reduce non-specific amplification and minimize the effects of contamination of nucleic acid amplification reaction assays due to amplified product from previous amplifications. The methods involve the introduction of unconventional nucleotide bags into the amplification reaction products and treating the products by enzymatic (e.g., glycosylases) and/or physical-chemical means to render the product incapable of acting as a template for subsequent amplifications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the relative amount of a nucleic acid segment in a sample by the polymerase chain reaction. The method involves the simultaneous amplification of the nucleic acid segment and a second nucleic acid segment present in the sample. The amount of amplified DNA from each segment is determined and compared to standard curves to determine the amount of the nucleic acid segment present in the sample before amplification expressed as a ratio of first segment to second segment. The method is especially preferred for determining the viral load, or copies of virus genome/host cell, in a sample of cells from an individual infected with a virus.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence associated with AIDS in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hybridization probe to the amplified product either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support. Exemplary primers and probes for amplifying and detecting AIDS virus are provided.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence of an isolate of HTLVI and/or HTLVII in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hybridization probe to the amplified product, either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence associated with one or more related viruses in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hybridization probe to the amplified product either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support. Preferably the virus constitutes AIDs viruses and hepadnaviruses.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence of an isolate of HTLVI and/or HTLVII in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hydridization probe to the amplified product, either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence associated with AIDS in a sample containing one or more nucleic acids and suspected of containing such sequence can be detected by amplifying the sequence using primers to form extension products as templates and detecting the amplified product if it is present. This may be accomplished by adding a labeled hybridization probe to the amplified product either free in solution or after immobilization on a solid support.