Apparatus and methods for performing real time PCR in array tape

Apparatus for detection comprising, in combination:

• a first tank containing a fluid thermal media with all of the fluid thermal media in the first tank under temperature control different than outside the first tank, with the first tank defining a volume having an opening;
• a second tank containing a fluid thermal media, with all of the fluid thermal media of the second tank under temperature control different than the temperature control of the fluid thermal media of the first tank and outside the first and second tanks, with the volume receiving a carrier spaced from the opening, with the carrier including regions containing contents, a head moveable into and out of the volume of the first tank through the opening, and a detector detecting a condition of the contents in the regions while the regions are received in the volume;
• first and second spools rotatably mounted to the head, with the detector located intermediate the first and second spools, with the carrier extending between the first and second spools, with the head and the first and second spools moveable from outside the first tank into the volume of the first tank through the opening.

Apparatus for detection comprising a first tank containing a fluid thermal media, with all of the fluid thermal media in the first tank under temperature control different than outside of the first tank, with the first tank defining a volume having an opening, with the volume receiving a carrier spaced from the opening, with the carrier including regions containing contents, a second tank containing a fluid thermal media with all of the fluid thermal media in the second tank under temperature control different than the temperature control of the fluid thermal media in the first tank and outside the first and second tanks, with the second tank defining a volume having an opening, with the volume of the second tank receiving the carrier spaced from the opening of the second tank, and a detector detecting a condition of the contents in the regions;

• a read head mounting the detector, with the read head moveable into and out of the volume of the first tank through the opening of the first tank and moveable into and out of the volume of the second tank through the opening of the second tank.