Random access system and method for polymerase chain reaction testing

A multi-vessel thermal cycler array comprising:

• a plurality of individually-controllable, single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• a plurality of seats for accommodating a reaction vessel containing a reaction liquid;
• gas flow conduits for transporting gas from a gas source to each of the plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• a gas flow driver for providing pressurized gas from the gas source to the each of the plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• a controller for controlling the gas flow driver;
• and
• a vibrating device to vibrate the reaction liquid in the reaction vessels.

A multi-vessel thermal cycler array comprising:

• a plurality of individually-controllable, single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• a plurality of seats for accommodating a reaction vessel containing a reaction liquid;
• gas flow conduits for transporting gas from a gas source to each of the plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• a gas flow driver for providing pressurized gas from the gas source to the each of the plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers;
• and
• a controller for controlling the gas flow driver, wherein the multi-vessel thermal cycler array is structured and arranged to insert reaction vessels containing a reaction liquid into and extract reaction vessels containing a reaction liquid from one of the plurality of seats randomly.

An individually-controllable, single-vessel thermal cycler for a multi-vessel thermal cycler array, the multi-vessel thermal cycler array including a plurality of receiving positions for a reaction vessel containing reaction liquid, gas flow conduits for transporting gas from a gas source to each of a plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers in the thermal cycler array, a gas flow driver for providing pressurized gas from the gas source to the each of the plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers, and a controller for controlling the gas flow driver, the single-vessel thermal cycler comprising:

• a gas-to-vessel flow guide that is disposed proximate to each of the plurality of receiving positions, for convectively heating or cooling said reaction liquid;
• a gas-to-heater flow guide coupled to at least one of the gas flow conduits, for transporting gas from the gas flow conduits to the gas-to-vessel flow guide;
• a controllable heating element that is disposed within the gas-to-heater flow guide and electrically-coupled to the controller, for heating or cooling gas flowing through said gas-to-heater flow guide to a desired temperature;
• and
• an optically-transmissive region for transmitting light to and fluorescence signals from the reaction liquid when the reaction vessel containing reaction liquid is installed in the receiving position.