Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of optimizing the collection of specimens, e.g., of blood, when multiple laboratory tests have been prescribed at one time for a patient. Laboratory tests may use specimens such as blood drawn, e.g., through venipuncture, and patients may experience greater discomfort, inconvenience, and/or anxiety as more and more blood is collected, and at greater expense. Embodiments of the invention include computer systems configured to optimize the collection of specimens for laboratory tests to reduce the number of specimens that must be collected from a patient for any given set of laboratory tests.