According to the present teachings, methods and compositions are provided that utilize at least one reference dye of formula (I): ##STR00001##
In some embodiments, a method comprises measuring a detection signal of a reporter dye and at least one reference dye of formula (I). In some embodiments, a composition comprises a reference dye of formula (1), a buffer, a selection of nucleotides and a protein.

Methods related to concealment of genetic information present within nucleic acid sequences, wherein individual nucleic acid molecules are barcoded. In some embodiments barcoding occurs before, after, or during enrichment. Barcoded nucleic acids are then combined with control barcoded nucleic acids. Different methods are provided for barcoding and pooling to conceal different types of genetic information present within nucleic acids.

Methods related to concealment of genetic information present within nucleic acid sequences, wherein individual nucleic acid molecules are barcoded. In some embodiments barcoding occurs before, after, or during enrichment. Barcoded nucleic acids are then combined with control barcoded nucleic acids. Different methods are provided for barcoding and pooling to conceal different types of genetic information present within nucleic acids.

A method of amplifying a target nucleic acid (polynucleotide) contained in a particle including an enclosing lipid bilayer membrane according to the present invention includes the steps of: lysing the particle which is stored in a compartment constituted by a liquid in an amount of 100 μl or less; and amplifying the target nucleic acid in the compartment.

A method of amplifying a target nucleic acid (polynucleotide) contained in a particle including an enclosing lipid bilayer membrane according to the present invention includes the steps of: lysing the particle which is stored in a compartment constituted by a liquid in an amount of 100 μl or less; and amplifying the target nucleic acid in the compartment.

Methods are provided for correction of amplification bias and quantitation of adaptive immune cells in a sample using synthetic templates that include random oligonucleotide sequences.

Methods are provided for correction of amplification bias and quantitation of adaptive immune cells in a sample using synthetic templates that include random oligonucleotide sequences.

The invention relates to a prenatal diagnostic method for the determination of a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy in a biological sample obtained from a pregnant woman, which method comprises enrichment and quantification of selected cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid sequences showing consensus nucleosome binding regions.

The invention relates to a prenatal diagnostic method for the determination of a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy in a biological sample obtained from a pregnant woman, which method comprises enrichment and quantification of selected cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid sequences showing consensus nucleosome binding regions.

Oligonucleotides may be universal primers and probes. Method may use these oligonucleotides for detecting or detecting and quantifying a nucleic acid acting as a universal internal control. A primer pair includes a first primer having SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complement thereof and a second primer having SEQ ID NO: 2 or a complement thereof. A probe includes SEQ ID NO: 3 or a complement thereof, preferably wherein each of the nucleotides in position 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of SEQ ID NO: 3 is replaced with a corresponding locked nucleic acid (LNA) unit (SEQ ID NO: 4).