Disclosed are methods and systems for detecting RNA and sequencing RNA in a wide range of samples such as samples with low concentrations of nucleic acid, samples with degraded nucleic acid, samples that would not otherwise be amenable to conventional sequencing or RNA detection methods, poor quality samples, high quality samples in which rare mutations are sought, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, blood samples, etc. The methods of the present invention may use paired, large panels of primers to amplify many short fragments that overlap between but not within each panel. Each panel's amplicon set may fill the gaps between those of the opposing panel, thereby providing complete gene or genomic coverage. A preliminary, multiplex amplification step amplifies target nucleic acid for all downstream reactions such as Sanger sequencing, cloning, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).