Comparison

Medical Lab Tests vs Bates' Pocket Guide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Medical Lab Tests

This app provides instant access to reference ranges, clinical significance, and interpretations for a wide array of laboratory tests. Designed for healthcare professionals and students, it offers detailed information on over 17 categories of lab tests, working offline for convenient use in clinical settings.

Highlights
  • Instant lab test lookup
  • 17+ lab test categories
  • Reference ranges (SI & US units)
  • Interpretation of abnormal values
  • Offline functionality
  • Powerful search
  • Favorites list
Features
Read full description

The go-to lab reference for healthcare professionals, medical students, and nurses — trusted on hospital wards, in classrooms, and during clinical rotations. INSTANT LAB TEST LOOKUP Search or browse 17 categories of laboratory tests and get immediate access to reference ranges, clinical significance, and differential interpretations for both high and low values. Categories include: Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Coagulation, Electrolytes & Metabolites, Arterial Blood Gas, Enzymes & Proteins, Ions & Trace Metals, Cardiac Tests, Liver & Pancreas, Lipids, Hormones, Immunology, Cancer Markers, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Drugs, Toxicology, and Urine. BUILT FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Each lab test entry includes: — A concise description of the test and its clinical relevance — Reference ranges in both SI and US (conventional) units — Detailed interpretation of abnormal values — Differentials for elevated and decreased results DESIGNED FOR YOUR WORKFLOW — Powerful search to find any test in seconds — Favorites for the values you check most often — Works fully offline — no Wi-Fi needed on the ward — Clean, intuitive interface optimized for iPhone and iPad — No account creation required — your privacy is respected — Automatically updated content library WHO IT'S FOR Whether you're a resident reviewing morning labs, a nursing student preparing for NCLEX, a medical student studying for USMLE Step 2, or an attending refreshing a rare test — Medical Lab Tests puts reliable reference data at your fingertips. Rated #1 Lab Values Application by iMedicalApps.com. DISCLAIMER All information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare providers for clinical decisions. Questions or suggestions? Contact us at mail@mediconapps.com — we read every message. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Bates' Pocket Guide

This app provides essential information for obtaining health histories and conducting physical exams. It features step-by-step techniques, updated images, and differential diagnoses for quick and accurate interpretation of findings. Ideal for students and professionals needing a fast reference.

Highlights
  • Over 130 detailed topics
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Updated photographs and illustrations
  • Two-column layout
  • New Algorithms for symptom approaches
  • Differential diagnoses
  • Highlighting and note-taking
  • Advanced search
Features
Read full description

*Featuring the latest content from the latest edition* ABOUT THE BATES' GUIDE: The Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking contains the critical information needed to obtain a meaningful health history, conduct a thorough physical exam, and interpret the findings quickly and accurately. Locate answers fast and review step-by-step techniques and possible findings using the distinctive two-column format with updated images. Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking is the ideal quick-reference resource for today’s medical, PA, pharmacy, and nursing students. FEATURES: • Over 130 detailed topics with step-by-step instructions • Updated photographs, illustrations, and references reinforce key content based on the latest evidence-based information • Two-column layout optimized for smartphones and tablets • New Algorithms provide helpful starting approaches for patients with common presenting symptoms. • Differential diagnoses for common, normal, and abnormal findings • Highlight and take notes within any entry • Advanced Search helps find topics quickly • “Favorites” for bookmarking important entries Authors: Lynn S. Bickley MD, FACP, Peter G. Szilagyi MD, MPH, Richard M. Hoffman MD, MPH, FACP, Rainier P. Soriano MD Publisher: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

Screenshots

Medical Lab Tests4 screens
Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

Medical Lab Tests and Bates' Pocket Guide both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 61% of Medical Lab Tests's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's. Medical Lab Tests also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 304). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Medical Lab Tests sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Medical Lab Tests against 4.8 for Bates' Pocket Guide. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 304 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Medical Lab Tests's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Medical Lab Tests ships an update every 3 months, Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Medical Lab Tests versus Bates' Pocket Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMedical Lab TestsBates' Pocket Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better4.8 (304 ratings)
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews — better40.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better304
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB10 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMedicon AppsUnbound Medicine, Inc.

Customer experience

Medical Lab Tests

All ratings1,141 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral15.6%
Negative22.9%

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings301 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

User reviews

Medical Lab Tests

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best diagnostic labs app
  • 👍 Wonderful application
  • 👍 Very helpful and convenient
  • 👍 Wonderful and useful application
  • 👍 Excellent app

Room to improve

  • 💰 Requires paid subscription
  • 🐛 Crashes frequently, cannot see information
  • 💰 Paid app now requires additional in-app purchases
  • 🌍 Not suitable for users outside the US
  • 🌍 Not suitable for Canadian users

Bates' Pocket Guide

From 304 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Reliable reference
  • 🖼️ Helpful pictures for diagnosis
  • 📚 Good for quick reference
  • 💡 Easy to understand and logical format
  • 🎯 Useful for clinicals and easy to maneuver

Room to improve

  • 💰 Overpriced app
  • 🔄 Outdated software
  • 🖱️ Not user-friendly navigation
  • 💸 Repeated payments required
  • ❌ Incorrect information/algorithms

Bugs and requests

Medical Lab Tests

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect tube color information
  • Not compatible with iPhone 5
  • Spelling errors in the app

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add ceruloplasmin test
  • Include vitamin and mineral panels
  • Add D-dimer test
  • Add venous and capillary blood gas tests
  • Include more coagulation and virology tests
Show 2 more
  • Add urinalysis and CSF values
  • Provide option to upload and compare personal lab results

Bates' Pocket Guide

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Sectional information is wrong
  • Topics do not correlate to information
  • Asterisk information is incorrect
  • App information needs updating and reviewing
  • Software is glitchy
Show 4 more
  • Hard to navigate between topics
  • Algorithm images are mismatched with titles
  • Doesn't take Bates account
  • Didn't work (iOS 7)

Requested features

5 requests
  • Update and review app information for accuracy
  • Improve content layout and navigation
  • Offer better preview options before purchase
  • Provide discounts for existing textbook/resource owners
  • Clarify product offerings to avoid buyer confusion

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Medical Lab Tests

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Quarterly$2.993 Months
  • Half-yearly$3.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time5
  • One Month subscription$0.99
  • 3 Months subscription$1.99
  • 6 Months subscription$2.99
Show 2 more
  • One year subscription$3.99
  • Pro Version$19.99
1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

One-time1
  • Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99

Questions

Is Medical Lab Tests free?
Medical Lab Tests is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Medical Lab Tests or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Medical Lab Tests is rated higher. Medical Lab Tests averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 from 304 ratings.
Do Medical Lab Tests or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Neither Medical Lab Tests nor Bates' Pocket Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Medical Lab Tests or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Medical Lab Tests ships an update every 3 months, and Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Most recently, Medical Lab Tests was updated on October 27, 2026 and Bates' Pocket Guide on October 27, 2026.

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