Thermal cycler having a temperature analysis and/or verification unit and a method for analyzing or verifying a thermal performance of a thermal cycler and for calibrating the thermal cycler

A method of amplifying segments of DNA via the polymerase chain reaction comprising:

• providing a thermal cycler (10) comprising
• a housing (12), the housing (12) accommodating a thermal block (14) having a plurality of sample wells (32), each for receiving a test sample in a sample vessel,
• an electric heater means (18) for heating the thermal block (14),
• a power supply (24),
• an electronic control (22) for controlling the electric heater means (18),
• a temperature analysis and verification unit (28) for analyzing and verifying a thermal performance of the thermal block (14), the temperature analysis and verification unit (28) comprising a temperature probe plate (34) having a plurality of temperature probes (36) for measuring the temperature within selected sample wells (32), wherein the temperature analysis and verification unit (28) is integrated into the housing (14) and is connected to the power supply (24) and to the electronic control (22) by means of an internal interface (26) and an electric connection between the temperature probe plate (34) and the interface (26) can be disconnected for removal of the temperature probe plate (34) from the thermal cycler (10) for external calibration;
• placing sample vessels containing test samples or reaction mixtures in said sample wells (32) of the thermal block (14), and
• alternately heating and cooling the test samples in said sample vessels (32) with the thermal block (14) to amplify the segments of DNA.