EP Evaluator, CD ROM, Release 6. Kennett Square, PA: David G. Rhoads Associates, CD ROM, manual of ∼415 pages plus 7 NCCLS Guidelines, 2004, price varies (as reviewed, $2795.00).

Abstract

EP Evaluator, Release 6 (EE6) is a Windows-based package of statistical applications for clinical laboratory method evaluation. Minimum system requirements are an IBM-compatible PC with Pentium CPU, 32-bit Windows operating system, 32 MB of RAM, and 50 MB of hard drive space. The package includes a CD ROM, user’s manual, and the associated NCCLS documents (NCCLS EP5-A, EP7-A, EP9-A2, EP10-A2, EP12-A, C28-A, and GP10-A). For this evaluation, the Professional version of the software was installed and run on a Pentium 4 platform operating under Windows XP; no problems were noted at installation, although a few isolated errors did occur during software operation. The spiral-bound user’s manual contains instructions for program operation and file management functions. There are separate chapters for each of the 20 statistical modules, and sample data sets (many of which match those preloaded into the software) with corresponding images of parameter, data entry, and results screens effectively illustrate program operation. Several additional chapters offer valuable guidance for the design and interpretation of method-evaluation studies. I did note some inconsistency between the user’s manual and the software, but the manual is generally well organized and clearly written. Input of data is accomplished through several routes, including manual entry, transfer from previous versions of EP Evaluator, copy/import from spreadsheet files, or direct capture from clinical analyzers via user-supplied instrument interface programs. Data may also be transferred from EE6 to spreadsheet programs by copying/pasting values or by exporting to comma-separated value (CSV) files. EE6 offers real-time graphical display of results as data are entered, and individual results may …