Analysis systems with microfluidic devices, microfluidic devices and related methods

An analysis system, comprising:

• a housing comprising a chamber sized and configured to receive at least one microfluidic device;
• at least one microfluidic device comprising a plurality of fluid channels, each with a plurality of sets of microwells positioned along each fluid channel;
• an optic system coupled to the housing in optical communication with the at least one microfluidic device, wherein the optic system comprises a camera with a field of view (FOV) that covers only a sub-array of the plurality of sets of microwells of the microfluidic device at any one time, wherein the sub-array of the plurality of sets of microwells comprises at least two sets of microwells;
• a controller coupled to the optic system, wherein the controller comprises at least one processor;
• a heat source coupled to the optic system and thermally coupled to the at least one microfluidic device held in the housing;
• a sub-array selection module comprising computer program code in communication with the controller, wherein the sub-array selection module is configured to select a sub-array of the plurality of sets of microwells of at least one fluid channel of the microfluidic device for imaging by the optic system after a reaction step during an assay;
• and
• a signal analysis module integrated in and/or coupled to the controller, wherein the signal analysis module is configured to obtain an analog PCR signal for each microwell in the selected sub-array of the plurality of sets of microwells, and wherein the analog PCR signal provides PCR data as amplitude changes with cycles of the assay and concentration of target molecules of a defined type, and wherein the signal analysis module is further configured to obtain a digital PCR signal(s) of part or all of the plurality of sets of microwells.