Determining temperature-varying signal emissions during automated, random-access thermal cycling processes

Abstract

A first time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a first thermal cycling process and a time stamp for each time interval, and a second time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a second thermal cycling process. Signal emissions at different signal detecting positions are sequentially measured at different time intervals to generate first and second time/signal emission data sets for receptacles subject to the first and second thermal cycling processes, respectively. Signal emissions of receptacles subject to the first thermal cycling process are synchronized with specific temperatures of the first thermal cycling process by comparing time stamps of the first time/signal emission data set for each receptacle with the time stamps of the first time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature. Signal emissions of receptacles subject to the second thermal cycling process are synchronized with specific temperatures of the second thermal cycling process by comparing time stamps of the second time/signal emission data set for each receptacle with the time stamps of the second time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature.