Abstract: A method (7) for detecting living microorganisms (1) and/or for differentiating between living (12) and dead (13) microorganisms in a sample (9) by in-situ hybridization (14), especially fluorescence in-situ hybridization, and optical analysis (26) of the microorganisms (1) to be detected, wherein at least one substance (10) is added to the sample (9) before the hybridization (14), which substance (10) promotes a differing alteration of the RNA concentration in dead cells and in living cells.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide probe combination (1) for the specific detection of microorganisms having a primary probe (5) and a secondary probe (6), wherein the primary probe (5) has at least one functional section (2) and the secondary probe (6) at least one tag (3) generating a detectable signal. The functional section (2) binds specifically to a target sequence of a microorganism to be detected, and the primary probe (5) and the secondary probe (6) are linked to one another but constitute separate chains (8).

Abstract: An oligonucleotide probe combination (1) for the specific detection of microorganisms having a primary probe (5) and a secondary probe (6), wherein the primary probe (5) has at least one functional section (2) and the secondary probe (6) at least one tag (3) generating a detectable signal. The functional section (2) binds specifically to a target sequence of a microorganism to be detected, and the primary probe (5) and the secondary probe (6) are linked to one another but constitute separate chains (8).

Abstract: What is proposed is to provide a method for detecting microorganisms, for example of the Enterobacteriaceae family of bacteria, in a sample by means of delivery of identity-determining nucleic acid probes into the individual cell bodies, wherein the nucleic acid probes hybridize to the nucleic acids of the microorganisms, and subsequent optical detection of the hybridizations generated in the individual cell bodies, wherein a mixture of at least a first nucleic acid probe and a second nucleic acid probe is used, and wherein the first nucleic acid probe and the second nucleic acid probe respectively bind in one of two nonoverlapping regions of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method (7) for detecting microorganisms (1) in a sample (9), by delivery (10) of specific nucleic acid probes (11) into the individual microorganisms (1), which react (12) with the nucleic acid material present in the microorganisms (1), and subsequent optical detection (16) of the reaction products generated in the individual microorganisms (1), in which fixation (13) of the microorganisms (1) contained in the sample (9) is carried out before the delivery (10) of the nucleic acid probes (11) and a detergent (14) is added to the sample (9) before the fixation step (13) is completed.

Abstract: A method (7) for detecting living microorganisms (1) and/or for differentiating between living (12) and dead (13) microorganisms in a sample (9) by in-situ hybridization (14), especially fluorescence in-situ hybridization, and optical analysis (26) of the microorganisms (1) to be detected, wherein at least one substance (10) is added to the sample (9) before the hybridization (14), which substance (10) promotes a differing alteration of the RNA concentration in dead cells and in living cells.