A biological sample analyzer, comprising: a housing having at least one outer wall that defines an internal cavity therein, the housing comprising an air intake and an air exhaust; a fan configured to force air along a path P that extends from the air intake of the housing, through a plenum, and out the air exhaust of the housing; a receptacle disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the receptacle is configured to support a consumable holder containing a biological sample; at least one heater configured to apply heat to the receptacle; at least one heater sensor configured to detect temperatures of the receptacle over time; a temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature AT of the ambient environment outside the biological sample analyzer; and a controller configured to: 1) detect whether the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT of the ambient environment outside the biological sample analyzer based on a decrease in temperature of the receptacle when the consumable holder is inserted into the receptacle; 2) control the at least one heater to apply a first amount of thermal energy to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is not below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to a target temperature; and 3) control the at least one heater to apply a second amount of thermal energy, greater than the first amount of thermal energy, to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to the target temperature; wherein the biological sample analyzer is configured to rapidly cool the at least one heater by causing the fan to force air over the at least one heater at a determined time before the diagnostic consumable holder exceeds the target temperature so as to cool the at least one heater to the target temperature; and the temperature sensor is - positioned adjacent the fan; - configured to detect the ambient temperature AT of the air being drawn into the plenum by the fan; and - in wired and/or wireless communication with the controller such that the controller can monitor the ambient temperature AT sensed by the temperature sensor. a housing having at least one outer wall that defines an internal cavity therein, the housing comprising an air intake and an air exhaust; a fan configured to force air along a path P that extends from the air intake of the housing, through a plenum, and out the air exhaust of the housing; a receptacle disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the receptacle is configured to support a consumable holder containing a biological sample; at least one heater configured to apply heat to the receptacle; at least one heater sensor configured to detect temperatures of the receptacle over time; a temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature AT of the ambient environment outside the biological sample analyzer; and a controller configured to: 1) detect whether the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT of the ambient environment outside the biological sample analyzer based on a decrease in temperature of the receptacle when the consumable holder is inserted into the receptacle; 2) control the at least one heater to apply a first amount of thermal energy to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is not below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to a target temperature; and 3) control the at least one heater to apply a second amount of thermal energy, greater than the first amount of thermal energy, to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to the target temperature; 1) detect whether the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT of the ambient environment outside the biological sample analyzer based on a decrease in temperature of the receptacle when the consumable holder is inserted into the receptacle; 2) control the at least one heater to apply a first amount of thermal energy to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is not below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to a target temperature; and 3) control the at least one heater to apply a second amount of thermal energy, greater than the first amount of thermal energy, to the consumable holder when the controller detects that the consumable holder is below the ambient temperature AT so as to heat the consumable holder to the target temperature; wherein the biological sample analyzer is configured to rapidly cool the at least one heater by causing the fan to force air over the at least one heater at a determined time before the diagnostic consumable holder exceeds the target temperature so as to cool the at least one heater to the target temperature; and the temperature sensor is - positioned adjacent the fan; - configured to detect the ambient temperature AT of the air being drawn into the plenum by the fan; and - in wired and/or wireless communication with the controller such that the controller can monitor the ambient temperature AT sensed by the temperature sensor. - positioned adjacent the fan; - configured to detect the ambient temperature AT of the air being drawn into the plenum by the fan; and - in wired and/or wireless communication with the controller such that the controller can monitor the ambient temperature AT sensed by the temperature sensor.