Patent ID: 8252536

Claim:
A method for analyzing a target nucleic acid in a biological sample, comprising the following steps: a) providing a reaction vial consisting of a single compartment and a closable lid, wherein said reaction vial contains: i) an absorbent matrix; ii) a biological sample on said absorbent matrix, wherein said biological sample comprises said target nucleic acid, and wherein said nucleic acid has not been extracted, washed, and/or eluted from said biological sample; iii) a reagent mixture for amplifying said nucleic acid; iv) a reagent mixture for detecting the amplified nucleic acid, and b) closing the lid of said reaction vial; c) releasing said nucleic acid from said absorbent matrix; d) amplifying said nucleic acid; and e) detecting the amplified nucleic acid through the use of a labelled probe as a result of fluorescence resonance energy transfer; wherein: steps c) through e) are performed in said reaction vial without removing said absorbent matrix from said reaction vial and without opening said reaction vial.