Patent ID: 8008046

Claim:
A method for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions, comprising: a. providing at least two sample vessels, each of the at least two sample vessels comprising a reaction mixture comprising a polynucleotide sample, reagents for carrying out nucleic acid amplification, and a dye for detecting amplification; b. cycling the temperature of the reaction mixture in the at least two sample vessels to perform multiple amplification cycles, wherein the at least two sample vessels are each in thermal contact with an oil contained within a heat block wherein the oil is actively mixed; c. regulating the temperature of the reaction mixture in each of the sample vessels by heating and cooling a heating element in contact with a bottom surface of the heat block; wherein the temperature between the two sample vessels has a variance of less than +/−0.3° C.; and d. optically measuring the dye between or during each of the multiple amplification cycles to determine a level of amplification while the at least two sample vessels remain in thermal contact with the oil.