Disclosed is a method for amplifying nucleic acid from a higher eukaryotic nucleic acid source, the method comprising (a) contacting a sampling device with the source of higher 5 eukaryotic nucleic acid such that following said contacting, higher eukaryotic nucleic acid-containing material is adhered to at least part of the sampling device, wherein the sampling device, or part thereof to which the nucleic acid-containing material is adhered, is made of a polymeric material； (b) introducing the sampling device or part thereof to which the nucleic acid containing material is adhered into a reaction vessel which contains a reaction mixture for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction, without any prior treatment of the nucleic acid-containing material； and (c) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, wherein the sampling device comprises a probe for supporting a nucleic acid sample； and a manipulator that is attachable to the probe such as to permit manoeuvring of the probe, the probe being separable from the manipulator wherein the probe includes a plurality of probe elements that are moveable one relative to another between contiguous and mutually spaced configurations, each probe element including a tip part that when the probe elements adopt their contiguous configuration combines with the other tip parts to define a composite tip that is capable of contacting nucleic acid for the purpose of conveying a sample thereof, and wherein the sampling device is not directly contacted with a living human.
