Abstract: A method and device are described for analyzing a sample for the presence of a nucleic acid wherein the sample is amplified, illustratively using PCR, in the presence of a fluorescent probe capable of providing a signal related to the quantity of nucleic acid present. A nucleic acid sample is amplified in the presence of the fluorescent entity, and the fluorescence intensity is measured at each of a plurality of amplification cycles. Scores are obtained from various tests performed on the fluorescence data, and the scores are used to determine whether the nucleic acid is present in the sample.

Abstract: A novel method for characterizing nucleic acids. A nucleic acid is combined with a double stranded nucleic acid-specific dye to form a detectable complex between the dye and one or more double stranded structures within the nucleic acid. The combination is then exposed to varying temperatures and the fluorescence emission of the dye is measured to determine the melting temperature(s) for the double stranded structures. In some embodiments that melting temperature profile is then compared to melting temperature profiles generated for other nucleic acid(s) to discern differences between the compared nucleic acids.

Abstract: Probes and methods are provided for detection and analysis of nucleic acid sequences. The probes are single-labeled oligonucleotide probes whose fluorescence emission changes in response to probe-target hybridization and dissociation. The methods are for analyzing one or multiple nucleic acid loci using the probes. This invention further relates to the use of fluorescence changes in single-labeled probes for melting curve analysis, genotyping, and pathogen detection, and to methods for quantification of specific sequences in real-time monitoring of nucleic acid amplification.