An apparatus adapted to receive a microfluidic cartridge comprising one or more detection chambers and a thermo-optical window placed on the underside of one or more detection chambers, and to perform a fluorescence assay on a liquid sample in one or more detection chambers (1403, 1403a, 1403b) of said microfluidic cartridge, the apparatus comprising: a) an inclined mounting plate mounted at a theta angle of between 10 to 45 degrees and having a pneumatic distribution manifold embedded therein, said pneumatic distribution manifold being adapted to distribute positive and negative pneumatic pressure to a pneumatic interface port adapted for sealingly docking the base of said microfluidic cartridge, said mounting plate having a thermal module attached thereto, said thermal module having one or more heating block elements (341, 342, 343, 344) with a surface configured to contact in use said thermo-optical window, at least one said heating block element having said surface modified as a reflective mirror face formed on the top surface of said at least one heating block element and contacting said thermo-optical window for forming a mirrored thermo-optical interface with said microfluidic cartridge; b) a floating stage mounted on said inclined mounting plate, said floating stage with chassis and docking bay for receiving said microfluidic cartridge therein and a clamping mechanism for reversibly urging said microfluidic cartridge to contactingly engage with said thermal module and pneumatic interface port; and c) a scanning detector head with one or more optical channels and drive train, each optical channel with an objective lens (1310, 1330), placed in use above said microfluidic cartridge, wherein said scanning detector head is slideably mounted on a pair of guiderails (308, 309) on said chassis of said floating stage and powered for scanning across said one or more detection chambers of said microfluidic cartridge in said docking bay, and is configured with an embedded microprocessor for detecting and processing fluorescent signals emitted therein. a) an inclined mounting plate mounted at a theta angle of between 10 to 45 degrees and having a pneumatic distribution manifold embedded therein, said pneumatic distribution manifold being adapted to distribute positive and negative pneumatic pressure to a pneumatic interface port adapted for sealingly docking the base of said microfluidic cartridge, said mounting plate having a thermal module attached thereto, said thermal module having one or more heating block elements (341, 342, 343, 344) with a surface configured to contact in use said thermo-optical window, at least one said heating block element having said surface modified as a reflective mirror face formed on the top surface of said at least one heating block element and contacting said thermo-optical window for forming a mirrored thermo-optical interface with said microfluidic cartridge; b) a floating stage mounted on said inclined mounting plate, said floating stage with chassis and docking bay for receiving said microfluidic cartridge therein and a clamping mechanism for reversibly urging said microfluidic cartridge to contactingly engage with said thermal module and pneumatic interface port; and c) a scanning detector head with one or more optical channels and drive train, each optical channel with an objective lens (1310, 1330), placed in use above said microfluidic cartridge, wherein said scanning detector head is slideably mounted on a pair of guiderails (308, 309) on said chassis of said floating stage and powered for scanning across said one or more detection chambers of said microfluidic cartridge in said docking bay, and is configured with an embedded microprocessor for detecting and processing fluorescent signals emitted therein.