Determining temperature-varying signal emissions during automated, random-access thermal cycling processes

1. A method of determining temperature-varying signal emissions during automated, random-access thermal cycling processes, comprising the automated steps of:

(a) transferring a first set of one or more receptacles to a first receptacle holder;

(b) subjecting the contents of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles to a first thermal cycling process and recording a temperature at regular time intervals during the first thermal cycling process and recording a time stamp for each time interval to generate a first time/temperature data set;

(c) transferring a second set of one or more receptacles to a second receptacle holder;

(d) subjecting the contents of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles to a second thermal cycling process and recording a temperature at regular time intervals during the second thermal cycling process and recording a time stamp for each time interval to generate a second time/temperature data set;

(e) with a signal detector, sequentially measuring a signal emission at each of a plurality of signal detecting positions at regular time intervals, wherein the signal emission measurement at each signal detecting position is made at a different time interval and is repeated over a prescribed period, and wherein each receptacle of the first set of receptacles and each receptacle of the second set of receptacles is associated with a different one of the signal detecting positions;

(f) during step (b), recording a signal emission measured during step (e) from the contents of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles and recording a time stamp at each time interval for which a signal emission is recorded for the receptacle, to generate a time/signal emission data set for each receptacle of the first set of receptacles;

(g) during step (d), recording a signal emission measured during step (e) from the contents of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles and recording a time stamp at each time interval for which a signal emission is recorded for the receptacle, to generate a time/signal emission data set for each receptacle of the second set of receptacles;

(h) synchronizing the measured signal emissions of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles with a specific temperature of the first thermal cycling process by comparing the time stamps of the time/signal emission data set for each receptacle of the first set of receptacles with the time stamps of the first time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature of the first thermal cycling process; and

(i) synchronizing the measured signal emissions of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles with a specific temperature of the second thermal cycling process by comparing the time stamps of the time/signal emission data set for each receptacle of the second set with the time stamps of the second time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature of the second thermal cycling process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first thermal cycling process and the second thermal cycling process is a PCR process.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the PCR process includes an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first thermal cycling process is the PCR process, and wherein the specific temperature is the denaturation temperature.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal emission is a fluorescent emission.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first thermal cycling process is the same as the second thermal cycling process.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first thermal cycling process is the different from the second thermal cycling process in terms of at least one of temperature and duration.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before step (a), forming a reaction mixture in each receptacle of the first set of receptacles, the reaction mixture comprising:

oil;

a first set of amplification reagents; and

a sample to be subjected to a first amplification procedure comprising exposure to the first set of amplification reagents and the first thermal cycling process.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, before step (c), forming a reaction mixture in each receptacle of the second set of receptacles, the reaction mixture comprising:

oil;

a second set of amplification reagents; and

a sample to be subjected to a second amplification procedure comprising exposure to the second set of amplification reagents and the second thermal cycling process.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before step (a), applying a cap to each receptacle of the first set of receptacles.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before step (c), applying a cap to each receptacle of the second set of receptacles.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first receptacle holder and the second receptacle holder is formed from a heat-conducting material and comprises one or more receptacle wells, each receptacle well being configured to receive a receptacle therein.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each receptacle well includes a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the associated receptacle well to an outer surface of the associated receptacle holder, and wherein, during step (f), the signal emission is transmitted from the contents of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles by an optical fiber having a first end disposed outside or within, or extending through, the through-hole of the associated receptacle well of the first receptacle holder, and during step (g), the signal emission is transmitted from the contents of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles by an optical fiber having a first end disposed outside or within, or extending through, the through-hole of the associated receptacle well of the second receptacle holder.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first thermal cycling process is at least partially effected by one or more first thermal elements coupled to a side surface of the first receptacle holder, such that each first thermal element provides thermal energy through the side surface of the first receptacle holder to each receptacle well of the first receptacle holder, thereby altering a temperature of the contents of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles held in a receptacle well of the first receptacle holder, and

the second thermal cycling process is at least partially effected by one or more second thermal elements coupled to a side surface of the second receptacle holder, such that each second thermal element provides thermal energy through the side surface of the second receptacle holder to each receptacle well of the second receptacle holder, thereby altering a temperature of the contents of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles held in a receptacle well of the second receptacle holder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more first thermal elements and the one or more second thermal elements comprise thermoelectric elements, and wherein subjecting the contents of each receptacle of the first set of receptacles to a first thermal cycling process comprises applying a voltage to the one or more first thermal elements to alter the temperature of the first receptacle holder, and wherein subjecting the contents of each receptacle of the second set of receptacles to a second thermal cycling process comprises applying a voltage to the one or more second thermal elements to alter the temperature of the second receptacle holder.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) is initiated during step (b).

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more receptacles is removed from the first receptacle holder immediately after the completion of step (c).

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) and step (d) occur simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) is initiated subsequent to the completion of step (b).

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding first amplification reagents to each receptacle of the first set of one or more receptacles such that the first thermal cycling process results in a first amplification reaction within each receptacle of the first set of one or more receptacles; and

adding second amplification reagents to each receptacle of the second set of one or more receptacles such that the second thermal cycling process results in a second amplification reaction within each receptacle of the second set of one or more receptacles.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein sequentially measuring a signal emission at each of a plurality of signal detecting positions at regular time intervals comprises indexing the signal detector with respect to the signal detecting positions to sequentially detect a signal at each signal detecting position.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (e) comprises, with two or more signal detectors, sequentially measuring a signal emission at each of the plurality of signal detecting positions at regular time intervals with each of the two or more signal detectors, wherein the signal emission measurement by each signal detector at each signal detecting position is made at a different time interval and is repeated over the prescribed period.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein sequentially measuring a signal emission at each of the plurality of signal detecting positions at regular time intervals with each of the two or more signal detectors comprises indexing the two or more signal detectors with respect to the signal detecting positions to sequentially detect a signal at each signal detecting position with each of the two or more signal detectors.