Method for detection, identification and quantitation of non-viral organisms

A method for detecting the presence in a test sample of any non-viral organisms belonging to a group, said group consisting of at least one non-viral organism, which comprises:

• (a) bringing together any test sample rRNA and a plurality of nucleic acid probes said probes having been selected to be sufficiently complementary to hybridize to one or more rRNA subunit subsequences that are specific to said group of non-viral organisms and each of said probes to be shorter in length than the rRNA subunit to which each of said probes hybridizes;
• (b) incubating the probes and any test sample rRNA under specified hybridization conditions such that said probes hybridize to the rRNA of said group of non-viral organisms and do not detectably hybridize to rRNA from other non-viral organisms;
• and ,
• (c) assaying for hybridization of said probes to any test sample rRNA.

A method for determining the presence or amount of a specific group of non-viral organisms consisting of at least one non-viral organism, which comprises:

• (a) mixing a plurality of nucleic acid probes with a test sample, each of said probes having been selected to have a sequence shorter in length than the rRNA subunit sequence to which each of said probes hybridizes, and to be capable of hybridizing with one or more rRNA subunit subsequences present in the group of non-viral organisms whose presence or amount is to be determined and not capable under conditions of the method of detectably hybridizing with the rRNA of other non-viral organisms;
• (b) placing the mixture under conditions such that hybridization between said probes and said rRNA subunit subsequences will occur;
• and,
• (c) assaying the mixture for hybridization between said probes and said rRNA subunit subsequences.