Optimization-based load planning systems and methods for laboratory analyzers

A laboratory analyzer system, comprising:

• a system controller;
• a plurality of laboratory analyzers controlled by the system controller and connected to each other via one or more automated tracks for transporting sample containers to and from the plurality of laboratory analyzers, each of the plurality of laboratory analyzers configured to perform one or more tests on one or more samples contained in the sample containers;
• and
• a computer server coupled to the system controller, the computer server comprising an optimization-based load planning module having computer executable instructions configured to cause the computer server to determine a load plan for the laboratory analyzer system, wherein the load plan comprises computer executable instructions configured to cause the system controller to schedule and direct each of a plurality of requested tests to be performed at one or more selected laboratory analyzers of the laboratory analyzer system based on computer readable data received by the computer server, the computer readable data comprising an inventory of the plurality of laboratory analyzers, types and numbers of requested tests to be performed by the laboratory analyzer system, and preferences or priorities related to operation of the laboratory analyzer system and to the types and numbers of requested tests to be performed;
• wherein:
• the system controller, executing the computer executable instructions of the load plan, schedules and directs each of the plurality of requested tests to be performed at the one or more selected laboratory analyzers of the laboratory analyzer system in accordance with the load plan.