A method for detecting the cytosine methylation of a nucleic acid target of interest that exhibits a region of partial cytosine methylation, said method comprising: (i) contacting a nucleic acid sample with an agent which modifies unmethylated cytosine residues; (ii) measuring within a single reaction regions of partial methylation in a DNA form of the nucleic acid sample of step (i) by contacting the DNA with: (a) a primer set comprising forward and reverse primers designed to amplify one or more fully or partially methylated forms of the modified region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein the primers are designed to overlap one or more CpG sequences and to specifically distinguish modified unmethylated from methylated DNA; and (b) one or more probes directed to said region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein said one or more probes are capable of collectively hybridising to at least two differing methylation patterns at said region and wherein said probe incorporates a detection means, wherein the one or more probes are designed to bind promiscuously across both methylated and non-methylated cytosines; (iii) amplifying the DNA sample of step (ii), wherein the extension of said primers along said nucleic acid target of interest effects the detection of said hybridised probe; and (iv) qualitatively or quantitatively analysing the detection output of step (iii). (i) contacting a nucleic acid sample with an agent which modifies unmethylated cytosine residues; (ii) measuring within a single reaction regions of partial methylation in a DNA form of the nucleic acid sample of step (i) by contacting the DNA with: (a) a primer set comprising forward and reverse primers designed to amplify one or more fully or partially methylated forms of the modified region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein the primers are designed to overlap one or more CpG sequences and to specifically distinguish modified unmethylated from methylated DNA; and (b) one or more probes directed to said region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein said one or more probes are capable of collectively hybridising to at least two differing methylation patterns at said region and wherein said probe incorporates a detection means, wherein the one or more probes are designed to bind promiscuously across both methylated and non-methylated cytosines; (a) a primer set comprising forward and reverse primers designed to amplify one or more fully or partially methylated forms of the modified region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein the primers are designed to overlap one or more CpG sequences and to specifically distinguish modified unmethylated from methylated DNA; and (b) one or more probes directed to said region of partial cytosine methylation, wherein said one or more probes are capable of collectively hybridising to at least two differing methylation patterns at said region and wherein said probe incorporates a detection means, wherein the one or more probes are designed to bind promiscuously across both methylated and non-methylated cytosines; (iii) amplifying the DNA sample of step (ii), wherein the extension of said primers along said nucleic acid target of interest effects the detection of said hybridised probe; and (iv) qualitatively or quantitatively analysing the detection output of step (iii). <EOS>