Based on proprietary technology, a new 384-hole heater is available to provide critical temperature uniformity across a 384 well polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sample block. This technology is especially useful for medical applications and addresses the move in the IVD market from 96-hole to 384-hole microplate. The new unit enables extremely tight hole-to-hole tolerance, allowing for near perfect registration of the 384-hole heater to a PCR sample block. The seamless fit of the heater provides the heat transfer that is critical to fast temperature cycling environments. It also enables an unobstructed view of the reaction process because, what can be large, heating components are eliminated.