Abstract: A method for identifying target nucleic acids includes the steps of contacting a sample containing a plurality of target nucleic acids with at least one series of nucleotide primers under conditions that allow binding of said primers to at least one of said target nucleic acids and labeling of said bound primers with a detectable signal, wherein one member within each series has a lower level of specificity than other members of the series; and measuring said detectable signal of each labeled primer to determine the identity of said target nucleic acids.