Patent ID: 8241852

Claim:
A method for detecting nucleic acid in a sample, wherein the method comprises the steps: a) combining a nucleic acid reporter molecule with the sample to prepare a labeling mixture, wherein the nucleic acid reporter molecule comprising a first nucleic acid complexing monomer moiety, a second nucleic acid complexing monomer moiety and a linker that is each R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 and R 12 are independently a —NR 2 , —N═ or S wherein R 2 is hydrogen, amine, substituted amine, substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted reactive group, substituted reactive group, unsubstituted carrier molecule, substituted carrier molecule, unsubstituted solid support, or substituted solid support; each Z is independently —(CH 2 ) g — wherein g is 0 or 1; wherein the first nucleic acid complexing monomer moiety is covalently attached to the linker; and the second nucleic acid complexing monomer moiety is covalently attached to the linker; b) incubating the labeling mixture for a sufficient amount of time for the nucleic acid reporter molecule to associate with nucleic acid in the sample; c) illuminating the labeling mixture with an appropriate wavelength; and, d) observing the illuminated labeling mixture whereby the nucleic acid is detected.