A method for managing sample exposure to air on an automation system for performing clinical laboratory in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) includes receiving a sample in a capped container and loading the capped container onto a sample carrier. A plurality of test requests corresponding to the sample is received. Optionally, the capped container may be parked on a sample handler pending readiness of the system to process the test requests. Each test request is associated with one or more analytical modules included in an automated IVD system. In response to determining that the first analytical module is available to perform the first test request, the capped container is reloaded from the sample handler, if necessary, and decapped. Next the system performs prioritized delivery of the decapped container to the analytical modules in order to optimize performance of the assays with respect to the stability of the sample's analytes.
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