Patent Document ID: 10139422
Application ID: 14759172
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for distributing sample tests in an IVD environment comprising: identifying a plurality of expected tests to be performed by a plurality of analyzer modules on a plurality of patient fluid samples stored in sample vessels; determining information about the capabilities of the plurality of analyzer modules; receiving, at a processor, incompatibility data identifying which of the plurality of expected tests are incompatible, where two tests within the plurality of expected tests are identified as incompatible when a pipette that interacts with the plurality of patient fluid samples would need to spend at least one cycle doing one of sitting idle due to a resource allocation conflict between the two tests and performing a washing operation due to a chemistry conflict between the two tests; calculating, by the processor, using the incompatibility data, a distribution of the plurality of expected tests amongst the plurality of analyzer modules that minimizes both resource allocation conflicts and chemistry conflicts; allocating reagents to each of the plurality of analyzer modules by selectively distributing a plurality of reagents to each of the plurality of analyzer modules in accordance with the calculated distribution of expected tests; scheduling the plurality of patient fluid samples to undergo tests at the plurality of analyzer modules in accordance with the calculated distribution of expected tests; and moving the sample vessels via an automation system such that at least a subset of the plurality of patient fluid samples each undergo tests by at least two of the plurality of analyzer modules to complete a plurality of test panels in accordance with the scheduling step, wherein the step of calculating a distribution of the plurality of expected tests comprises using a search algorithm to identify at least one solution that exceeds a compatibility threshold.