A system for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to determine the amount of a target nucleic acid present in one or more of the reaction receptacles or to ascertain the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in one or more of the reaction receptacles, said system comprising: at least one temperature-controlled incubator including an incubation chamber for receiving reaction receptacles therein and for exposing the reaction receptacles within said incubation chamber to controlled temperature conditions; a nucleic acid quantification system comprising a signal measuring device constructed and arranged to measure the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle in real time, wherein the reaction receptacle is disposed within said incubation chamber and placed in operative proximity to said signal measuring device and wherein said nucleic acid quantification system is constructed and arranged to determine the amount of a target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacles by: periodically measuring the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle during a first amplification procedure; and quantifying the amount of the target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle based upon the periodic measurements; a nucleic acid detection system comprising a signal detecting device constructed and arranged to detect a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle at the conclusion of a second amplification procedure, wherein the reaction receptacle is disposed within a detection chamber distinct from said incubation chamber and placed in operative proximity to said signal detecting device and wherein said nucleic acid detection system is constructed and arranged to ascertain the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacle by: detecting a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle at the conclusion of the second amplification procedure; and ascertaining the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid in the reaction receptacle based upon whether or not a signal above a threshold level is detected; and an automated transport system (500, 502) constructed and arranged to automatically transport reaction receptacles to and from said nucleic acid quantification system and to automatically transport reaction receptacles to said nucleic acid detection system; wherein said nucleic acid quantification system and said nucleic acid detection system are contained within a housing. at least one temperature-controlled incubator including an incubation chamber for receiving reaction receptacles therein and for exposing the reaction receptacles within said incubation chamber to controlled temperature conditions; a nucleic acid quantification system comprising a signal measuring device constructed and arranged to measure the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle in real time, wherein the reaction receptacle is disposed within said incubation chamber and placed in operative proximity to said signal measuring device and wherein said nucleic acid quantification system is constructed and arranged to determine the amount of a target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacles by: periodically measuring the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle during a first amplification procedure; and quantifying the amount of the target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle based upon the periodic measurements; periodically measuring the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle during a first amplification procedure; and quantifying the amount of the target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle based upon the periodic measurements; a nucleic acid detection system comprising a signal detecting device constructed and arranged to detect a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle at the conclusion of a second amplification procedure, wherein the reaction receptacle is disposed within a detection chamber distinct from said incubation chamber and placed in operative proximity to said signal detecting device and wherein said nucleic acid detection system is constructed and arranged to ascertain the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacle by: detecting a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle at the conclusion of the second amplification procedure; and ascertaining the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid in the reaction receptacle based upon whether or not a signal above a threshold level is detected; and detecting a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle at the conclusion of the second amplification procedure; and ascertaining the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid in the reaction receptacle based upon whether or not a signal above a threshold level is detected; and an automated transport system (500, 502) constructed and arranged to automatically transport reaction receptacles to and from said nucleic acid quantification system and to automatically transport reaction receptacles to said nucleic acid detection system;