Patent ID: 8313931

Claim:
A set of oligonucleotides for detecting a target nucleic acid, said set of oligonucleotides comprising: a) a first oligonucleotide comprising a 5′ and 3′ nucleotide sequence, wherein said 5′ nucleotide sequence is 5-23 nucleotides in length beginning at the 5′ end of said first oligonucleotide, wherein said 3′ sequence is at least 80% identical to a first portion of said target nucleic acid, and wherein a fluorescent moiety is attached in the 5′ nucleotide sequence of said first oligonucleotide; and b) a second oligonucleotide comprising a 5′ and 3′ nucleotide sequence, wherein said 5′ nucleotide sequence is 5-23 nucleotides in length beginning at the 5′ end of said second oligonucleotide, wherein said 3′ nucleotide sequence is at least 80% identical to a second portion of said target nucleic acid, and wherein an acceptor moiety is attached in the 5′ nucleotide sequence of said second oligonucleotide; wherein said 5′ nucleotide sequence of said first oligonucleotide is at least 80% identical to the complement of said 5′ nucleotide sequence of said second oligonucleotide, and wherein the 3′ nucleotide sequence of each said oligonucleotide is not labeled with a fluorescent moiety or an acceptor moiety that is compatible with said fluorescent moiety attached to said first oligonucleotide or said acceptor moiety attached to said second oligonucleotide.