A process for detecting the presence of a mutation in an oligonucleotide strand such as a DNA strand from a gene without the need for DNA sequencing is provided. The inventive process provides a rapid pre-test to screen for the presence or absence of a mutation in a target gene of a subject to determine whether laborious sequencing protocols are required to further characterize a mutation. The inventive process provides a rapid screening protocol for identifying and detecting a genetic mutation in a patient who presents with a disease