Photoblocked probes are disclosed including a specific hydrolysis probe having a first nucleic acid sequence complementary to a target having a second nucleic acid sequence, a first and a second interactive labels, a 5′ end and a 3′ end, and one or more photocleavable moieties coupled to one or more nucleotides of the specific hydrolysis probe, wherein the photocleaveable moiety interferes with the hybridization of the specific hydrolysis probe with the region of the amplification product. Also disclosed are PCR methods for the detection of the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in a sample utilizing the photoblocked probes, as well as kits.
