A multiplex assay for detecting the presence or absence of multiple serotypes of an human papillomavirus organism in a biological sample wherein the assay detects more serotypes than there are channels for detection, comprising: contacting a biological sample with at least three oligonucleotide primer/probe sets, each of which comprises at least one oligonucleotide probe that is detectably labeled and has a nucleotide sequence length of 10 to 50 and at least two oligonucleotide primers each of which has a target binding sequence having a nucleotide sequence length of 10 to 25 under conditions such that the probes and primers anneal to a target sequence and wherein each primer/probe set is at least preferential for a specific serotype of HPV wherein the first and second primer/probe sets are degenerate with respect to each other and wherein the degenerate probes each have a signal moiety that emits signal that is detectable on the same channel and wherein the third primer/probe set is not degenerate with respect to the other two primer/probe sets and discriminates for a third serotype that is not the serotypes to which the degenerate primer/probe sets preferentially anneal, wherein the third primer/probe set has a signal moiety that emits signal at a wavelength that is the same or different from the wavelength emitted by the signal moiety of the degenerate probes and wherein the target for the degenerate primer/probe sets is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 36-38; amplifying, if present, the target sequence; and monitoring for detection the label as an indication of the hybridization of the probe set to the target sequence thereby indicating the presence or absence of at least one of the serotypes of HPV. contacting a biological sample with at least three oligonucleotide primer/probe sets, each of which comprises at least one oligonucleotide probe that is detectably labeled and has a nucleotide sequence length of 10 to 50 and at least two oligonucleotide primers each of which has a target binding sequence having a nucleotide sequence length of 10 to 25 under conditions such that the probes and primers anneal to a target sequence and wherein each primer/probe set is at least preferential for a specific serotype of HPV wherein the first and second primer/probe sets are degenerate with respect to each other and wherein the degenerate probes each have a signal moiety that emits signal that is detectable on the same channel and wherein the third primer/probe set is not degenerate with respect to the other two primer/probe sets and discriminates for a third serotype that is not the serotypes to which the degenerate primer/probe sets preferentially anneal, wherein the third primer/probe set has a signal moiety that emits signal at a wavelength that is the same or different from the wavelength emitted by the signal moiety of the degenerate probes and wherein the target for the degenerate primer/probe sets is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 36-38; amplifying, if present, the target sequence; and monitoring for detection the label as an indication of the hybridization of the probe set to the target sequence thereby indicating the presence or absence of at least one of the serotypes of HPV.