A method and system for heating and/or inspecting a portable microfluidic assay cartridge for performing an assay includes receiving the assay cartridge on a receiving region of a translatable table under automated control, heating the cartridge, during performance of the assay, with a planar radiant heater plate, the heater plate having an aperture through which an inspection axis extends, and/or inspecting the cartridge using an optical system constructed to inspect the cartridge along the inspection axis by reading a fluorescent light signal which passes through the aperture in the heater plate. In addition, the cartridge moves with movement of the translation table, and the heater plate and optical system may be stationary, and the inspection axis may be fixed.