Patent ID: 8080645

Claim:
An isolated, single-stranded ribonucleic acid molecule of at least 40 nucleotides in length of a sequence prepared by the in vitro transcription of a polynucleotide of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 comprising a nucleic acid segment that comprises: (a) a first sequence domain that specifically binds to a labeled probe of from about 12 to about 35 nucleotides in length that is specific for the detection of the nucleic acid segment; (b) a second sequence domain that specifically binds to a forward PCR amplification primer of about 15 to about 35 nucleotides in length; (c) a third sequence domain that specifically binds to a reverse PCR amplification primer of about 15 to about 35 nucleotides in length; and (d) a nucleotide sequence that is not present within a mammalian genome, or a genome of a bacterium, fungus, protozoan, virus that is pathogenic to a mammal; wherein the isolated ribonucleic acid molecule remains at least substantially non-degraded when placed in a solution comprising: (i) one or more chaotropes; (ii) one or more detergents; (iii) one or more reducing agents; (iv) one or more chelators; and (v) one or more buffers, collectively present in an amount sufficient to prevent the substantial degradation of a population of polynucleotides comprising the single-stranded ribonucleic acid molecule, at a temperature of about 10° C. to about 40° C., for a period of about 1 day to about 90 days, and wherein the second and third sequence domains are operably positioned to facilitate a PCR-directed amplification of at least a first portion of the nucleic acid segment from the forward and reverse primers under conditions effective to amplify the at least a first portion.