Comparison

Mosby's Drug Reference vs Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests

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

Head to head
About

Mosby's Drug Reference

This app provides healthcare professionals with comprehensive drug information, including actions, usage, dosage, interactions, and side effects. It emphasizes patient safety with Black Box Warnings, Safety Alerts, and information on life-threatening side effects. Features include custom notes, highlights, and quick search functionality.

Highlights
  • Over 5,000 drug listings
  • Black Box Warnings and Safety Alerts
  • Drug action, usage, dosage, interactions, side effects
  • Custom notes and highlights
  • Full text search
  • Appendix of recent FDA-approvals
Features
Read full description

14-Day Free Trial ** Trusted by Health Care Professionals for Over 30 Years ** ABOUT MOSBY’S DRUG REFERENCE Based on the latest edition, Mosby's Drug Reference provides health care professionals with the tools they need to eliminate errors and improve accuracy. Drug monographs feature concise, easy-to-understand information and make finding answers easy with sections on each drug's action, usage, dosage, interactions, side effects, and more. With an emphasis on patient safety, this best-selling app includes Black Box Warnings for dangerous adverse reactions, Safety Alerts for situations requiring special attention, and a focus on life-threatening side effects of 50 common drug classes. FEATURES • More than 5,000 generic and trade-name drugs are profiled • Appendix of recent FDA-approvals • Icons for High Alert and Rarely Used medications • Highlighted Black Box Warnings, safety alerts, and life-threatening side effects • Helpful IV therapy updates • Create custom notes and highlights within entries • 150+ abbreviations listed for practical understanding • Unlabeled uses and help with easily confused drug names • Full Text Search helps find medications quickly • “Favorites” for bookmarking important entries FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: WHAT TO EXPECT • First-time users can access Unbound's complete Mosby's Drug Reference mobile app free for 14 days • After 14 days, your iTunes account will be charged $45.99 for a one-year subscription unless you have turned off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the free trial ends. • To manage your subscriptions, open Apple's “Settings” app and tap on the “iTunes & App Store" entry. Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen and login. Tap subscriptions, then tap the subscription you wish to manage. •NOTE: If you choose not to purchase a subscription, content will no longer be viewable after the free trial period. iTunes automatic renewal: Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off 24 hours prior to the conclusion of your current period. Auto Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged the current renewal rate ($45.99) within 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. If you choose not to renew, you will be able to use the app, however will not receive updates. Authors: Linda Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP Publisher: Elsevier Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

About

Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests

This app provides comprehensive information on laboratory and diagnostic tests, including their physiological basis, reference values, and nursing implications. It helps healthcare professionals and students understand test results, plan care, and educate patients. The app offers offline access and smart search functionality.

Highlights
  • Detailed test information
  • Physiological and pathophysiological understanding
  • Reference values with age variations
  • Nursing care before, during, and after procedures
  • SmartSearch technology
  • Offline access
Features
Read full description

""Try before you buy"" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. In-App purchase required to unlock all content. Based on 4th print ed. Covering 25 categories of tests. For each type of test, information is provided on anatomic, physiological, and pathophysiological understandings of procedures; reference values, including variations related to age. This updated 4th edition of Nurse's Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests offers detailed overviews of physiology to help nurses and students think critically and understand the results of laboratory and diagnostic tests and their implications for therapy. This latest update is based on the 4th edition and it includes additional features, enhanced functionality and ongoing updates! It aids nurses and students in understanding the basis for a test, how to know if a test is appropriate, where problems can arise, and how to explain to patients what to watch out for. The content is presented as a guiding reference for planning care, providing specific interventions, and evaluating outcomes of nursing care. What's New: * Nursing care before, during, and after a test or procedure is thoughtfully covered * Background information and description of the test or procedure are followed directly by the reference values and other clinical applications data for each test or group of tests * For each test or study, the reference values include variations related to age or gender, if applicable * Both conventional units and international units (SI) are specified No internet connection is required to access the content after the initial download. Find information quickly using powerful SmartSearch technology. Search part of term for those hard to spell medical terms. Content licensed from printed ISBN 10: 803611331 Content licensed from printed ISBN 13: 978-0803611337 If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-3000 Privacy Policy - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx Author(s): Bonita Morrow Cavanaugh, PhD, RN Publisher: F. A. Davis Company

Screenshots

Mosby's Drug Reference4 screens
Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests at 100% against Mosby's Drug Reference's 32%. Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Mosby's Drug Reference's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (234 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Mosby's Drug Reference sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $45.99 per year and Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests 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

Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mosby's Drug Reference has 234 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Mosby's Drug Reference's written reviews are positive against 100% of Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mosby's Drug Reference ships an update every 9 months, Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mosby's Drug Reference versus Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMosby's Drug ReferenceManual Lab Diagnostic Tests
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (234 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings234 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB55 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperUnbound Medicine, Inc.Skyscape Medpresso Inc

Customer experience

Mosby's Drug Reference

All ratings235 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral3.4%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive31.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative59.1%

Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Mosby's Drug Reference

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Every time I search norco or hydrocodone hydrochlorothiazide comes up

Requested features

3 requests
  • Version for people in the dental field
  • Create an app version for dental drug reference
  • Separate favorites list for users and spouses

Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Mosby's Drug Reference

Subscriptions1
  • Mosby's Drug Reference14 Days trial$45.991 Year
1 purchases

Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests

One-time1
  • Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests$39.99

Questions

Is Mosby's Drug Reference free?
Mosby's Drug Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests free?
Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mosby's Drug Reference or Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests?
Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests is rated higher. Mosby's Drug Reference averages 4.6 out of 5 from 234 ratings, while Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Mosby's Drug Reference or Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests have ads?
Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests shows ads; Mosby's Drug Reference does not.
Which is updated more often, Mosby's Drug Reference or Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests?
Mosby's Drug Reference ships an update every 9 months, and Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests every 8 months. Most recently, Mosby's Drug Reference was updated on October 21, 2026 and Manual Lab Diagnostic Tests on September 29, 2026.

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