Patent ID: 7615620

Claim:
A homogeneous assay detection system for a PCR process using FRET which comprises at least one unlabelled tailed primer, a first single-labelled Oligonucleotide sequence, the first single-labelled Oligonucleotide sequence being a primer from which DNA synthesis may be initiated, the unlabelled tailed primer having a tail region comprising an Oligonucleotide sequence identical to a portion of the first single-labelled Oligonucleotide sequence, and at least a second single-labelled Oligonucleotide sequence, the first and second Oligonucleotide sequences being of differing Tm, in which the first and second Oligonucleotide sequences hybridize to one another in free solution to form a fluorescent quenched pair, that upon introduction of a complementary sequence to one or both sequences at least one of the single-labelled Oligonucleotides hybridizes to a complementary sequence and initiates DNA synthesis, the said at least one single-labelled Oligonucleotide no longer being able to hybridize to the other single-labelled Oligonucleotide, whereby one or both sequences generates a measurable signal, one of the sequences being of a Tm that is below the Ta of the PCR process.