A method of detecting in a sample single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) having 25 or fewer nucleotides, comprising: (a) combining a sample suspected of containing ssRNA, wherein the ssRNA comprises 25 or fewer nucleotides, with a substituted, unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound of Formula II: or a dye compound selected from the group consisting of Compound 4, Compound 5, Compound 6, Compound 7, Compound 8, Compound 9, Compound 10, Compound 11, Compound 12, Compound 13, Compound 14, Compound 15, Compound 16, Compound 17, Compound 18, Compound 19, Compound 20, Compound 21, Compound 23, Compound 25, Compound 26, Compound 27, Compound 30, Compound 31, Compound 32, Compound 33, Compound 34, Compound 35, Compound 36, Compound 37, Compound 38, Compound 39, Compound 40, Compound 41, Compound 42, Compound 43, Compound 44, Compound 45, Compound 46, Compound 47, Compound 48, Compound 49, Compound 50, Compound 51, Compound 52, Compound 53, Compound 54, Compound 55, Compound 56, Compound 57, Compound 58, Compound 59 and Compound 60 having the following formula: Compound R 1 R 2 R 4 R 7 4 -CH 3 phenyl H 5 -CH 3 phenyl H 6 -CH 3 phenyl H 7 -CH 3 phenyl H 8 -CH 3 phenyl H 9 -CH 3 phenyl H 10 -CH 3 phenyl H 11 -CH 3 phenyl H 12 -CH 3 phenyl H 13 -CH 3 phenyl H 14 -CH 3 phenyl H 15 -CH 3 phenyl H 16 -CH 3 phenyl H 17 -CH 3 phenyl H 18 -CH 3 phenyl H 19 -CH 3 phenyl H 20 -CH 3 phenyl H 21 -CH 3 phenyl H 23 -CH 3 phenyl H 25 -CH 3 phenyl H 26 -CH 3 phenyl H 27 -CH 3 phenyl H 30 -CH 3 phenyl H 31 -CH 3 phenyl H 32 -CH 3 phenyl H 33 -CH 3 phenyl H 34 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 35 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 36 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 37 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 38 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 39 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 40 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 41 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 42 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 43 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 44 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 45 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 46 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 47 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 48 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 49 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 50 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 51 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 52 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 53 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 54 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 55 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 56 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 57 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 58 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 59 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 60 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3; (b) incubating the sample for a time sufficient for the dye compound to combine with the ssRNA in the sample, if present, to form a dye-ssRNA complex that emits a detectable fluorescent signal; and (c) detecting for the emission of the fluorescent signal, wherein the detectable fluorescent signal is indicative of the presence of a dye-ssRNA complex. (a) combining a sample suspected of containing ssRNA, wherein the ssRNA comprises 25 or fewer nucleotides, with a substituted, unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound of Formula II: or a dye compound selected from the group consisting of Compound 4, Compound 5, Compound 6, Compound 7, Compound 8, Compound 9, Compound 10, Compound 11, Compound 12, Compound 13, Compound 14, Compound 15, Compound 16, Compound 17, Compound 18, Compound 19, Compound 20, Compound 21, Compound 23, Compound 25, Compound 26, Compound 27, Compound 30, Compound 31, Compound 32, Compound 33, Compound 34, Compound 35, Compound 36, Compound 37, Compound 38, Compound 39, Compound 40, Compound 41, Compound 42, Compound 43, Compound 44, Compound 45, Compound 46, Compound 47, Compound 48, Compound 49, Compound 50, Compound 51, Compound 52, Compound 53, Compound 54, Compound 55, Compound 56, Compound 57, Compound 58, Compound 59 and Compound 60 having the following formula: Compound R 1 R 2 R 4 R 7 4 -CH 3 phenyl H 5 -CH 3 phenyl H 6 -CH 3 phenyl H 7 -CH 3 phenyl H 8 -CH 3 phenyl H 9 -CH 3 phenyl H 10 -CH 3 phenyl H 11 -CH 3 phenyl H 12 -CH 3 phenyl H 13 -CH 3 phenyl H 14 -CH 3 phenyl H 15 -CH 3 phenyl H 16 -CH 3 phenyl H 17 -CH 3 phenyl H 18 -CH 3 phenyl H 19 -CH 3 phenyl H 20 -CH 3 phenyl H 21 -CH 3 phenyl H 23 -CH 3 phenyl H 25 -CH 3 phenyl H 26 -CH 3 phenyl H 27 -CH 3 phenyl H 30 -CH 3 phenyl H 31 -CH 3 phenyl H 32 -CH 3 phenyl H 33 -CH 3 phenyl H 34 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 35 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 36 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 37 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 38 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 39 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 40 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 41 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 42 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 43 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 44 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 45 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 46 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 47 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 48 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 49 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 50 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 51 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 52 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 53 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 54 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 55 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 56 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 57 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 58 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 59 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3 60 -CH 3 phenyl -OCH 3; (b) incubating the sample for a time sufficient for the dye compound to combine with the ssRNA in the sample, if present, to form a dye-ssRNA complex that emits a detectable fluorescent signal; and (c) detecting for the emission of the fluorescent signal, wherein the detectable fluorescent signal is indicative of the presence of a dye-ssRNA complex.