Here is an interesting blog from Brian Caplin at Fluoresentric.
"Many of you may be familiar with real-time PCR. Those of you who had the opportunity to run a diagnostic test with this technique have often been amazed at the ease with which a result can be obtained, interpreted, and even reported. 
There are, today, hundreds of large and small diagnostic companies set up to perform such testing. Unfortunately, the state of the technology with extant PCR primer design techniques can often... Read full post