Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising herpesvirus-specific oligonucleotides which are useful as primers to amplify particular regions of the genome either herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus during enzymatic nucleic acid amplification. The invention also provides a rapid, sensitive and specific method for the detection of the respective herpesvirus which may be present in a clinical specimen, using the herpesvirus-specific primers and enzymatic nucleic acid amplification; hybridization of amplified target sequences, if present, with one or more herpesvirus-specific oligonucleotide probes which are labeled with a detectable moiety; and detection of the detectable moiety of labeled oligonucleotide probe hybridized to amplified target sequences of herpesvirus DNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising P. gingivalis specific oligonucleotides which are useful as primers to amplify particular regions of the genome of P. gingivalis during enzymatic nucleic acid amplification. The invention also provides a method for the detection of P. gingivalis, which may be present in a clinical specimen, using the P. gingivalis-specific primers and enzymatic nucleic acid amplification. The present invention also relates to P. gingivalis-specific oligonucleotides which are useful as probes to facilitate detection of the amplified regions of P. gingivalis DNA.