Fluorophore-based oligonucleotide probes with a universal element

A method of detecting the presence of a target polynucleotide and/or sequence variations within the target polynucleotide using a probe system comprising two independent partner oligonucleotide components wherein the first oligonucleotide has a first and second section, wherein the first section comprises a nucleotide sequence that is labelled with at least one visually detectable label and is not capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence of the target polynucleotide; and wherein the second section comprises a nucleotide sequence that is capable of hybridising to a portion of the sequence of the target polynucleotide said second section having a Tm of between 25 and 50oC; and the second oligonucleotide has a first and second section, wherein the first section comprises a nucleotide sequence which is capable of hybridising to a nucleotide sequence of the first section of the first oligonucleotide; and the second section comprises a nucleotide sequence that is capable of hybridising to a nucleotide sequence of the target polynucleotide that is adjacent to the nucleotide sequence that the second section of the first oligonucleotide is capable of hybridising to; said second section of the second oligonucleotide having a Tm of between 40 and 70oC. There are also provided alternative methods using additional oligonucleotides and probes for use in such methods.