A kit for amplifying and detecting at least two non-coding RNA molecules, the kit comprising: (a) at least two different primer pairs, each of which is specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules in a multiplex reaction, each primer pair comprising a forward primer and a reverse primer, wherein the forward primer of each primer pair is specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules to be detected, and the reverse primer of each primer pair comprises a sequence that anneals to a poly(ribonucleotide) sequence present in or added to the non-coding RNA and a sequence specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence, wherein the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence optionally comprises an oligo(dT) sequence or an oligo(dA) sequence; wherein at least one of the forward and reverse primers of each primer pair comprises a hairpin primer comprising: (i) a first nucleotide sequence comprising: a sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected when the hairpin primer is the forward primer, or the sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence when the hairpin primer is the reverse primer; (ii) a second nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the first sequence; (iii) a third nucleotide sequence or spacer at the 5' end of the second sequence; (iv) a fourth nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the third sequence or spacer, the fourth sequence being complementary to the second sequence, so as to form a double-stranded duplex; and (v) means for emitting a detectable signal when the strands of the duplex are separated, wherein each hairpin primer in the kit produces a different detectable signal; and (b) wherein the kit either comprises an enzyme capable of adding said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence to RNA molecules or the kit comprises no additional primers or probes for amplifying and detecting cDNA molecules corresponding to said non-coding RNA molecules to be detected. (a) at least two different primer pairs, each of which is specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules in a multiplex reaction, each primer pair comprising a forward primer and a reverse primer, wherein the forward primer of each primer pair is specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules to be detected, and the reverse primer of each primer pair comprises a sequence that anneals to a poly(ribonucleotide) sequence present in or added to the non-coding RNA and a sequence specific for one of the at least two non-coding RNA molecules to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence, wherein the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence optionally comprises an oligo(dT) sequence or an oligo(dA) sequence; wherein at least one of the forward and reverse primers of each primer pair comprises a hairpin primer comprising: (i) a first nucleotide sequence comprising: a sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected when the hairpin primer is the forward primer, or the sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence when the hairpin primer is the reverse primer; (ii) a second nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the first sequence; (iii) a third nucleotide sequence or spacer at the 5' end of the second sequence; (iv) a fourth nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the third sequence or spacer, the fourth sequence being complementary to the second sequence, so as to form a double-stranded duplex; and (v) means for emitting a detectable signal when the strands of the duplex are separated, wherein each hairpin primer in the kit produces a different detectable signal; and (i) a first nucleotide sequence comprising: a sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected when the hairpin primer is the forward primer, or the sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence when the hairpin primer is the reverse primer; a sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected when the hairpin primer is the forward primer, or the sequence specific for the non-coding RNA molecule to be detected at the 3' end of the sequence that anneals to said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence when the hairpin primer is the reverse primer; (ii) a second nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the first sequence; (iii) a third nucleotide sequence or spacer at the 5' end of the second sequence; (iv) a fourth nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the third sequence or spacer, the fourth sequence being complementary to the second sequence, so as to form a double-stranded duplex; and (v) means for emitting a detectable signal when the strands of the duplex are separated, wherein each hairpin primer in the kit produces a different detectable signal; and (b) wherein the kit either comprises an enzyme capable of adding said poly(ribonucleotide) sequence to RNA molecules or the kit comprises no additional primers or probes for amplifying and detecting cDNA molecules corresponding to said non-coding RNA molecules to be detected.