def METHOD_NAME(hold_time: float) -> float:
    """Validate a given temperature hold time.
    Args:
        hold_time: The requested hold time in seconds.
    Raises:
        InvalidHoldTimeError: The given time is invalid
    Returns:
        The validated time in seconds
    """
    if hold_time < 0:
        raise InvalidHoldTimeError(
            "Thermocycler target temperature hold time must be a positive number,"
            f" but received {hold_time}."
        )
    return hold_time