A system for carrying out a diagnostic test on a sample contained therein, the system comprising: (i) a cartridge comprising: a fluidic layer, at least one collapsible blister (130a-c) containing a liquid reagent; a pneumatic interface; an electrical interface; at least one mechanical valve; a first region comprising a sample mixing chamber and a coarse filter; a second region comprising at least one amplification chamber (56a, 56b); and a third region comprising at least one detection chamber (62a-d); (ii) a cartridge reader comprising: a thermal module comprising a first, a second, and a third thermal stack (287a-c), and configured to heat the cartridge; a pneumatics module configured to couple to the pneumatic interface; a mechanical actuator configured to actuate the at least one mechanical valve; at least one blister actuator configured to collapse the at least one collapsible blister; and an electrical module with a plurality of pins configured to couple to the electrical interface; wherein when the fluidic cartridge is inserted in the cartridge reader, the first region, the second region, and the third region are aligned with and exchange heat with the first thermal stack, the second thermal stack, and the third thermal stack, respectively. (i) a cartridge comprising: a fluidic layer, at least one collapsible blister (130a-c) containing a liquid reagent; a pneumatic interface; an electrical interface; at least one mechanical valve; a first region comprising a sample mixing chamber and a coarse filter; a second region comprising at least one amplification chamber (56a, 56b); and a third region comprising at least one detection chamber (62a-d); a fluidic layer, at least one collapsible blister (130a-c) containing a liquid reagent; a pneumatic interface; an electrical interface; at least one mechanical valve; a first region comprising a sample mixing chamber and a coarse filter; a second region comprising at least one amplification chamber (56a, 56b); and a third region comprising at least one detection chamber (62a-d); (ii) a cartridge reader comprising: a thermal module comprising a first, a second, and a third thermal stack (287a-c), and configured to heat the cartridge; a pneumatics module configured to couple to the pneumatic interface; a mechanical actuator configured to actuate the at least one mechanical valve; at least one blister actuator configured to collapse the at least one collapsible blister; and an electrical module with a plurality of pins configured to couple to the electrical interface; wherein when the fluidic cartridge is inserted in the cartridge reader, the first region, the second region, and the third region are aligned with and exchange heat with the first thermal stack, the second thermal stack, and the third thermal stack, respectively. a thermal module comprising a first, a second, and a third thermal stack (287a-c), and configured to heat the cartridge; a pneumatics module configured to couple to the pneumatic interface; a mechanical actuator configured to actuate the at least one mechanical valve; at least one blister actuator configured to collapse the at least one collapsible blister; and an electrical module with a plurality of pins configured to couple to the electrical interface; wherein when the fluidic cartridge is inserted in the cartridge reader, the first region, the second region, and the third region are aligned with and exchange heat with the first thermal stack, the second thermal stack, and the third thermal stack, respectively.