Compositions and methods for preparing oligonucleotide solutions

A method of detecting the presence of target nucleic acids comprising:

• a) obtaining a first substrate comprising greater than 50 different single-stranded oligonucleotides linked to discrete sites on the first substrate;
• b) releasing said greater than 50 different single stranded oligonucleotides from said first substrate as a pool of greater than 50 different single stranded oligonucleotides;
• c) contacting said pool of greater than 50 different single stranded oligonucleotides with a composition comprising target nucleic acids, whereby said target nucleic acids hybridize with greater than 50 different single stranded oligonucleotides in said pool of oligonucleotides;
• d) capturing said greater than 50 different single stranded oligonucleotides in said pool of oligonucleotides hybridized with said target nucleic acids on a second substrate;
• e) contacting said target nucleic acids with a primer, wherein said target nucleic acids are amplified upon binding to said primer;
• and
• f) detecting the presence of said target nucleic acids.