The present invention relates to methods and devices for detecting and differentiating between Mycobacterium strains in a sample based upon species-specific upstream p34 gene region (us-p34) sequences. New us-p34 sequences and probes and primers derived therefrom are provided as well as methods and diagnostic kits based on the same. The invention also relates to methods and devices for detecting and differentiating between Pseudomonas strains in a sample based upon species-specific rRNA opreon (rrn) sequences. New rrn sequences and probes and primers derived therefrom are provided as well as methods and diagnostic kits based on the same.
