Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods as-saying saying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids. Further provided are reagent mixtures that allow for direct amplification of a sample, without the step of nucleic acid extraction.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids. Further provided are reagent mixtures that allow for direct amplification of a sample, without the step of nucleic acid extraction.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid from a microorganism using direct amplification without a step of extraction of the nucleic acids, but retaining substantially the same specificity and sensitivity of methods assaying extracted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Biological assay systems with enhanced sensitivity may employ waveguides. Quantum dots, which are inorganic fluorescent markers, may be used as markers that will indicate a presence of amount of one or more target molecules (e.g., analytes) in a sample. Multiple markers may be bound to each target molecule or a corresponding competitive molecule to provide a more intense signal from each such molecule and, thus, increased sensitivity. Such multiple binding may be effected by cascading techniques, by binding markers to multiple sites on a target molecule or corresponding competitive molecule, or otherwise.