Abstract: A method for delivering medical samples with a laboratory request from an extraction point to a laboratory is presented. The availability of the test to be performed on a sample during a time at a first laboratory is checked. If the test cannot be performed during that time, laboratory attributes available at laboratories are checked via laboratory broker devices. A suitable candidate laboratory can be identified amongst the laboratories based on the laboratory attributes of the suitable candidate laboratory. The identified suitable candidate laboratory and the first laboratory communicate with each other regarding the feasibility of the suitable candidate laboratory to perform the test on the sample. If feasible to perform the test at the suitable candidate laboratory, the sample and the laboratory request are delivered to the suitable candidate laboratory for testing. After test performance at the suitable candidate laboratory, the test results are communicated to the extraction point.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for operating an analytical laboratory for processing biological samples is presented. The processing priority of test orders related to the biological samples is determined based on an objectively determined urgency of the analytical test results and on staff workload at a forecast time of availability of the analytical test result(s).