System for incubating sample liquids

A system for incubating sample liquids, said system comprising:

• holding means having a plurality of bores therein, said bores configured to receive incubating vessels therein, said incubating vessels including support elements which engage said holding means, and wherein said incubating vessels are supported by said support elements on said holding means;
• an incubator block having a plurality of bores therein, said plurality of bores of said incubator block configured to correspond with said plurality of bores in said holding means, said plurality of incubating vessels being received in said plurality of bores in said incubator block, when the holding means is disposed on the incubator block;
• thermal means coupled to said incubator block, said thermal means for controlling a temperature of the incubator block, wherein a first space is formed between the support elements and the holding means when the holding means is disposed on the incubator block when the incubating vessels contact a bottom of the bores of said incubator block, and wherein a second space exists between inner walls of the bores in the holding means and outer walls of the vessels when the vessels are lifted from the holding means, thereby preventing a jamming of the vessels and the bores in the incubator block.