Method for detecting small oligonucleotides

A method for detecting at least one small oligonucleotide, comprising:

• providing a biological isolate comprising at least one small oligonucleotide;
• contacting the biological isolate with at least one detection oligonucleotide and at least one bridge oligonucleotide under conditions such that the at least one small oligonucleotide and the at least one detection oligonucleotide are preferentially added to the bridge oligonucleotide to produce at least one labeled small oligonucleotide, the at least one detection oligonucleotide having a 5′ end, a 3′ end, and a label moiety, label moiety being linked to the 5′ end, the 3′ end, or an internal portion of the detection oligonucleotide;
• adding at least one ligating reagent to preferentially join the at least one small oligonucleotide and the at least one detection oligonucleotide;
• and
• detecting the at least one labeled small oligonucleotide.

A kit for detecting at least one small oligonucleotide in a biological isolate, comprising:

• a detection oligonucleotide comprising about 5 to 500 nucleotides and having a 5′ end and a 3′ end, the detection oligonucleotide preferentially ligating to a small oligonucleotide;
• a label moiety for preferentially labeling the detection oligonucleotide, the label moiety being linked to the detection oligonucleotide;
• and
• reagents for ligating the small oligonucleotide to the detection oligonucleotide.