There is provided a method of detecting and/or determining the presence of one or more thyroid-specific nucleic acid, the method comprising annealing the one or more thyroid-specific nucleic acid in the presence of a control nucleic acid, and subjecting each of the one or more thyroid-specific nucleic acid to one or more amplification step in the presence of a mixture comprising a surfactant and an oligonucleotide primer and/or probe capable of hybridizing with the one or more thyroid-specific nucleic acid, wherein the oligonucleotide primer and/or probe comprises a cleavage site and a cleavable 3′ end. Also disclosed are methods of detecting and/or determining thyroid cancer recurrence and/or metastasis and thyroid-specific nucleic acid detection mixtures, and kits thereof.