Systems and methods for determining presence and/or characteristics of target analytes in a sample

A method of detecting a presence and/or a characteristic of a target analyte, said method comprising:

• obtaining a cartridge including a base portion and a cap portion, said cap portion including an inlet port and said base portion including multiple reaction wells, and wherein said inlet port and multiple reaction wells are communicatively coupled such that a sample containing said target analyte received at said inlet port is distributed to said multiple reaction wells;
• introducing into said inlet port said sample containing said target analyte to form a loaded cartridge;
• placing said loaded cartridge inside a reaction chamber that includes a reaction heating block disposed therein;
• compressing said loaded cartridge to form a compressed cartridge such that said multiple reaction wells are sealed to form sealed multiple reaction wells that are sealed off from each other;
• and
• commencing heat treatment of said sample containing said target analyte in said sealed multiple reaction wells, wherein said commencing includes contacting said sealed multiple reaction wells with said reaction heating block, such that from no amount to a substantially reduced amount of evaporation of said sample escapes said sealed multiple reaction wells.