The present invention is directed to a process of detecting a target nucleic acid using labeled oligonucleotides. This process uses the 5' to 3' nuclease activity of a nucleic acid polymerase to cleave annealed labeled oligonucleotide from hybridized duplexes and release labeled oligonucleotide fragments...http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US5210015?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5210015 - Homogeneous assay system using the nuclease activity of a nucleic acid polymerase
