Lab Guide (Lab Tab)

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OS Tested: Palm
OS Available: Palm, Pocket PC
Tested on: Tungsten T|5
Written by: David Stockwell, MD
Review Written: March 12th, 2006

Platform: Epocrates' unique platform
Installation: Easy
Speed: No Problems, quite zippy
Crashes: None encountered

Features: The lab reference for Epocrates. Updated like the rest of the program with AutoUpdate, this section under the "Lab" tab contains hundreds of lab tests. All entries contain the following information:

• Basics
• Reference Range
• Interpretation
• Pre/Collection
• Cost/Billing
• Notes

Basics includes a "Description" of the test as well as "Synonyms". Interpretation gives you a choice of high or low and then lists the differential diagnosis for each possibility. These list includes grouping by "Diseases or Conditions," "Medication Causes" as well as "Spurious Causes".

Prep/Collection gives information on "Specimen Type", "Container" used to collect and method of "Prep/Collection" and finally a section on "Cautions".

Cost/Billing includes information on "Test Cost" as well as "Commonly Associated ICD-9's" for each lab test.

Usability/Navigation:
Like the rest of the platform, this section is simple to navigate. Finding the lab of interest is fast and the information presented clearly and concisely. This is not the most expansive lab reference but will likely cover the vast majority of questions about lab testing.

Pros:

• Excellent navigation/presentation of the information
• Adult and pediatric references and interpretation
• Utility increases dramatically when combined with the disease reference (Dx) in Essentials

Cons:
Too pricey as offered in Epocrates Lab, much better when combined with the rest of the Epocrates Essentials

Bottom line:
This is a good product but not strong enough to warrant the high annual fee when combined only with the medication reference in Epocrates Lab. Much stronger as part of the complete package in Epocrates Essentials.