Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the number of copies of a target nucleic acid relative to the number of copies of a reference nucleic acid in a biological specimen. The method includes amplifying the target nucleic acid, measuring the amplification of the target nucleic acid, amplifying the reference nucleic acid, measuring the amplification of the target nucleic acid, and comparing the amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence to the amplification of the reference nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A method for detecting a target nucleic acid, which method includes the steps of (i) amplifying the target nucleic acid to obtain an amplification product using a polymerase, a first primer with or without a segment noncontiguous to a first priming sequence, and a second primer with or without a segment noncontiguous to a second priming sequence in the presence of an oligonucleotide which is incapable of acting as a primer for the polymerase, wherein the oligonucleotide has at least 5 consecutive nucleotides fully complementary to at least 5 consecutive nucleotides of the first primer; and (ii) detecting the presence of the target nucleic acid by monitoring the amplification thereof.

Abstract: A method for detecting a target nucleic acid, which method includes the steps of (i) amplifying the target nucleic acid to obtain an amplification product using a polymerase, a first primer with or without a segment noncontiguous to a first priming sequence, and a second primer with or without a segment noncontiguous to a second priming sequence in the presence of an oligonucleotide which is incapable of acting as a primer for the polymerase, wherein the oligonucleotide has at least 5 consecutive nucleotides fully complementary to at least 5 consecutive nucleotides of the first primer; and (ii) detecting the presence of the target nucleic acid by monitoring the amplification thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a homogeneous process for amplifying a target sequence in a nucleic acid sample and detecting amplification in the absence of a separation step. The invention further provides a method for nucleic acid amplification under conditions which substantially reduce the occurrence of nonspecific amplification. Products and an apparatus related to the homogeneous process are also described.