The present invention describes novel oligonucleotides targeted to nucleic
acid sequences derived from Cryptosporidium organisms, and
Cryptosporidium parvum organisms in particular, which are useful for
determining the presence of Cryptosporidium organisms in a test sample.
The oligonucleotides of the present invention include hybridization assay
probes, helper probes and amplification primers. The present invention
further describes a novel method for obtaining purified ribonucleic acid
from viable oocysts.