Controls and standards for assays and method for manufacturing the controls and standards is described. A list of exchangeable pairs of blocks is developed based on size and function. The head carriage drive mechanism has voice coil motors located on each side X2 and side X1 of the head carriage, in which a number of turns N2 in a drive coil of a voice coil motor on the X2 side is greater than a number of turns N1 in a drive coil of a voice coil motor on the opposite X1 side. A multi-point calibration at various reference temperatures is implemented with low time expenditure in this manner.