Reaction vessel systems and methods and systems for using same

A reaction vessel system, comprising:

• a reaction vessel (RV) comprising:
• a reaction chamber comprising a wall, a top opening, and a closed bottom;
• a groove disposed around the perimeter of the top opening of the reaction chamber, the groove comprising:
• an outer groove wall disposed radially outward relative to the top opening, and
• an inward-projecting ridge, wherein the groove is disposed below the inward-projecting ridge on the outer groove wall;
• a RV cap comprising:
• a cap body comprising a pipettor barrel interface comprising an open top and a closed bottom;
• a lower wall projecting downward from the perimeter of the bottom of the cap body, the lower wall disposed radially outward relative to the bottom of the cap body and comprising an outward projecting ridge, wherein the lower wall is disposed above the outward projecting ridge of the lower wall;
• and
• a RV plug projecting downward from the cap body, the RV plug having a lower convex surface and sized for insertion into and sealing of the reaction chamber of the RV;
• wherein, when the RV cap is inserted into the RV and a reaction mixture is present in the reaction chamber:
• the lower convex surface of the RV plug is configured to reduces the void volume within the reaction chamber and displaces the air that makes up the void volume to a circumferential space defined by the lower convex surface of the RV plug and an upper surface of the reaction mixture within the reaction chamber.