A process is provided for identifying a complementary target nucleic acid. The process includes the hybridization of a nucleic acid probe to a carrier to form a nucleic acid probe-carrier complex. The complex is placed in a compartment bounded by a media permeable to the nucleic acid probe and exclusive of both the carrier and the complex. The complex is then denatured, with the nucleic acid probe transported through the media and into contact with the target nucleic acid. The nucleic acid probe hybridizes to the complementary target nucleic acid to yield a probe-target double stranded complex. A non-complementary nucleic acid probe, independent probe-target complex is returned to the compartment and given an opportunity to rehybridize to the carrier. A determination as to whether at least one of the complementary target nucleic acid or the carrier is present as a complex provides information as to probe sequences complementary to the target nucleic acid.