Abstract: Described is an improved multiplex ligation-dependent amplification method for detecting the presence and quantification of at least one specific single stranded target nucleic acid sequence in a sample using a plurality of probe sets of at least two probes, each of which includes a target specific region and a non-complementary region comprising a primer binding site. The probes belonging to the same set are ligated together when hybridised to the target nucleic acid sequence and amplified by a suitable primer set. By using a femtomolar amount of the probes a large number of different probe sets can be used to simultaneously detect and quantify a corresponding large number of target sequences with high specificity.

Abstract: Described is an improved multiplex ligation-dependent amplification method for detecting the presence and quantification of at least one specific single stranded target nucleic acid sequence in a sample using a plurality of probe sets of at least two probes, each of which includes a target specific region and a non-complementary region comprising a primer binding site. The probes belonging to the same set are ligated together when hybridised to the target nucleic acid sequence and amplified by a suitable primer set. By using a femtomolar amount of the probes a large number of different probe sets can be used to simultaneously detect and quantify a corresponding large number of target sequences with high specificity.