A composition of matter comprising: (a) a first part comprising at least one first nucleic acid primer that comprises (i) at least one first energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of a nucleic acid of interest; (b) a second part comprising at least one second nucleic acid primer that comprises: (i) at least one second energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is identical to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of said nucleic acid of interest; wherein said first nucleic acid primer does not comprise said second energy transfer element, and wherein said second nucleic acid primer does not comprise said first energy transfer element; wherein the first energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy donor and the second energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy acceptor, or the first energy transfer element is capable of acting as acting as an energy acceptor and the second energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy donor; and wherein the sequences of the first nucleic acid primer and the second nucleic acid primer are selected such that if the nucleic acid of interest is present in a sample, said first and second nucleic acid primers will be incorporated into different complementary strands of a double stranded amplicon in sufficient proximity for energy transfer to occur between the first energy transfer element and the second energy transfer element of the incorporated primers; (c) a sample suspected of containing said nucleic acid of interest; and (d) reagents for carrying out nucleic acid strand extension. (a) a first part comprising at least one first nucleic acid primer that comprises (i) at least one first energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of a nucleic acid of interest; (i) at least one first energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of a nucleic acid of interest; (b) a second part comprising at least one second nucleic acid primer that comprises: (i) at least one second energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is identical to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of said nucleic acid of interest; wherein said first nucleic acid primer does not comprise said second energy transfer element, and wherein said second nucleic acid primer does not comprise said first energy transfer element; wherein the first energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy donor and the second energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy acceptor, or the first energy transfer element is capable of acting as acting as an energy acceptor and the second energy transfer element is capable of acting as an energy donor; and wherein the sequences of the first nucleic acid primer and the second nucleic acid primer are selected such that if the nucleic acid of interest is present in a sample, said first and second nucleic acid primers will be incorporated into different complementary strands of a double stranded amplicon in sufficient proximity for energy transfer to occur between the first energy transfer element and the second energy transfer element of the incorporated primers; (i) at least one second energy transfer element; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is identical to a nucleic acid sequence in at least a portion of said nucleic acid of interest; (c) a sample suspected of containing said nucleic acid of interest; and (d) reagents for carrying out nucleic acid strand extension.