Patent ID: 8367327

Claim:
A method of creating a multiplex assay capable of detecting more than one biological threat agent simultaneously within a sample containing a mixture of biological threat agents and excluding non-targeted nucleic acid sequences within the sample, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting more than one target nucleic acid sequence, wherein each of said more than one target nucleic acid sequence is unique to a specific genus or species of biological threat agent organism and is a conserved sequence within that group; (b) obtaining more than one primer each of which corresponds to one of said more than one target nucleic acid sequence, wherein each of said more than one primer is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 1-44 and is specific to one biological threat agent; (c) creating at least one probe from each of said more than one primer by labeling each of said more than one primer with a detectable label; (d) binding at least one target nucleic acid sequence, if present within said sample, with said at least one probe to create at least one labeled target nucleic acid; (e) amplifying said at least one labeled target nucleic acid, if present, to create at least one detectable nucleic acid; and (f) detecting a presence or absence of said at least one detectable nucleic acid.