Abstract: A method for stabilising reagents suitable for use in a nucleic acid amplification reaction has now been developed comprising: (i) preparing a reagent mixture comprising reagents suitable for use in a nucleic acid amplification reaction wherein the mixture comprises a polynucleotide polymerase; and (ii) drying the reagents; characterised in that said reagent mixture comprises from about 0.1% to about 50% of the final concentration of magnesium ions required to activate an amplification reaction. Reagents, reaction vessels, use of such reagents in a nucleic acid amplification reaction, and a method of conducting an amplification reaction using reagents so prepared are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising: (a) adding to a sample suspected of containing said target nucleic acid sequence, a fluorescently labelled probe specific for said target sequence, and DNA duplex binding agent which can absorb fluorescent energy from the fluorescent label on the probe bur which does not emit visible light, (b) subjecting the thus formed mixture to an amplification reaction in which target nucleic acid is amplified, (c) subjecting said sample to conditions under which the said probe hybridises to the target sequence, and (d) monitoring fluorescence from said sample. This method can be used for example to monitor amplification reactions such as PCR reactions, such that the amount of target sequence present in the sample may be determined.