Abstract: An optimized network-based system and method for providing reagents or reagent-like matter for the differential diagnosis of medical conditions using a hosted software program coupled with a comprehensive medical reference database. Suspected diagnoses of medical conditions are entered into the system by a user. Using meta-analysis, the system generates a list of potential reagents and numerical measures of each reagent's behavior for each differential for use in further testing. The results of the testing are compared by the user against numerical measures of each reagent's behavior and corresponding stored digital images in the network-based system. The user then selects among those diagnoses in the system whose images and corresponding numerical measures of each reagent's behavior are most comparable with the results of the testing. The system then generates a diagnosis, diagnoses, or inconclusive results in order to reach an ultimate diagnosis.