Identifying a target polynucleotide

A method for identifying the presence of a single stranded target polynucleotide in a sample comprising the steps of (i) contacting the target polynucleotide, under hybridising conditions, with at least first and second polynucleotide probes, each of which comprise a first region complementary to adjacent non-overlappïng regions of the target polynucleotide; (ii) ligating together those first and second polynucleotides that hybridise to the target polynucleotide; (iii) optionally, amplifying any ligated polynucleotides; and (iv) determining whether the target polynucleotide is present in the original sample, by detecting any ligated polynucleotide, wherein at least one of the first and second polynucleotides comprise a second region having a defined polynucleotide sequence, with each individual nucleotide of the first region being represented by at least two nucleotides on the second region, and the ligated polynucleotide being identified by determining the second region of at least one of the first and second polynucleotide probes.