In one aspect, the present invention concerns methods and kits for quantifying a target nucleic acid in a sample. In embodiments, a method comprises sequestrating the target nucleic acid by one or more interactors to form a sequestered conjugate that will be further labeled to form a labeled conjugate. The signal produced by the labeled conjugate is measured and correlated to the amount of the target nucleic acid. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid in a sample by a reaction of the nucleic acids in the sample with a nucleic acid interactor or set of interactors to form a conjugate. The conjugate is then sequestered from the rest of the sample with a molecule bound to a support, to form a sequestered conjugate. The sequestered conjugate is labeled to form a labeled conjugate. The signal produced by the labeled conjugate is measured and correlated to the amount of the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid is cell free nucleic acids. In embodiments, the interactor binds to nucleic acids in the sample in a nonsequence specific manner.