Test Quick Guide

A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is a blood exam with fourteen dissimilar measurements. Information technology is frequently used to evaluate liver function, kidney function, and food levels.

Because it includes multiple measurements, the CMP offers a broad look at different functions of the body. As a result, it may be prescribed in a number of contexts, including to help diagnose and monitor weather similar diabetes and kidney and liver disease.

About the Test

Purpose of the test

The purpose of the comprehensive metabolic panel is to comport a broad assessment of various aspects of physical well-being. With fourteen measurements, information technology tin detect a range of abnormalities in blood sugar, nutrient balance, and liver and kidney health.

Depending on the state of affairs, a CMP can be employed for diagnosis, screening, or monitoring.

  • Diagnosis happens afterwards symptoms have started and is the process used to decide the cause. Because it includes a collection of measurements, the CMP may be prescribed in the diagnosis of many different types of symptoms.
  • Screening is attempting to find health problems before symptoms occur. The CMP may exist prescribed equally office of a routine wellness check-upwards to expect for indications of underlying issues.
  • Monitoring is the process of seeing how a patient's situation changes. A CMP can be used to come across if examination levels go up or down over time, including after treatment. The test tin can besides aid check for side effects of medications, especially those that have the potential to bear on the liver or kidneys.

What does the examination mensurate?

The CMP includes 14 separate measurements that are conducted with the same blood sample:

  • Glucose is a blazon of sugar that provides energy for the brain and body. This is as well known equally blood saccharide and may be elevated with metabolic issues like diabetes.
  • Calcium is a critical mineral that enables bone wellness as well as the performance of muscles and the cardiovascular and nervous systems. The main sources of calcium are dietary, but calcium levels in the blood do not normally fluctuate based on diet. Instead, calcium in the claret is unremarkably fatigued from calcium stored in the basic.
  • Sodium is a type of compound known as an electrolyte. Electrolytes are minerals that promote salubrious fluid levels and acrid-base residuum in the body. They too facilitate proper muscle and nerve function. Most sodium comes from your diet, and the kidneys assistance regulate your body'due south sodium levels.
  • Potassium is an electrolyte that is nowadays in all tissues of the torso and comes from the foods you swallow.
  • Bicarbonate is an electrolyte that reflects the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in your blood.
  • Chloride is some other electrolyte that functions along with sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate to enable a wide range of processes in the trunk.
  • Blood urea nitrogen(BUN) is a measurement of urea nitrogen, a waste fabric that the kidneys help eliminate from the blood.
  • Creatinine is a byproduct of normal muscle activity. It is a waste material product that is commonly filtered and removed from the blood past the kidneys.
  • Albumin is a protein produced in the liver that transports important substances through the body and too keeps fluid from leaking out of blood vessels.
  • Total poly peptide is a measurement of the sum of albumin and globulins, which are proteins related to claret vessel and allowed part.
  • Element of group i phosphatase  (ALP) is an enzyme that is institute in tissues throughout the body. It supports numerous biological processes and is most concentrated in the liver and bones.
  • Alanine aminotransferase  (ALT) is an enzyme that is primarily plant in the liver.
  • Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) is an enzyme present in the liver and other tissues of the body.
  • Bilirubin is a waste material production that is xanthous in colour and is produced from the breakdown of reddish claret cells. The liver plays a central function in eliminating bilirubin from the torso.

When should I get a comprehensive metabolic panel?

The comprehensive metabolic console may be advisable in a range of dissimilar circumstances. For diagnosis, it may exist indicated when y'all have symptoms that could be related to problems affecting the kidney, liver, or metabolism. Information technology may also exist helpful when you have a general symptom, such as fatigue, that can be caused by many different health conditions.

There are no clear guidelines for when the CMP should be used for screening in people without any symptoms. While many doctors prescribe the test equally function of routine check-ups, at that place is a lack of evidence showing that the benefits of such testing outweigh the risks, such every bit unnecessary costs and procedures.

For monitoring, a CMP may be prescribed if you had a prior test that was abnormal in lodge to see if your levels remain abnormal. A CMP can also be used afterward treatment has been started to see how your levels take inverse. If you are starting a new medication that tin alter kidney or liver part, the CMP may be a useful tool for making sure that these organs are yet working properly.

Finding a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

How to go tested

The comprehensive metabolic panel uses a claret sample that is normally taken in a medical laboratory, office, or dispensary. The test is done after being prescribed by a doctor, and the assay is conducted in a laboratory.

Tin can I have the test at home?

There are no or extremely express at-habitation examination kit options for the total comprehensive metabolic panel. This test is almost always conducted by obtaining a sample in a lab or other medical setting.

While the total CMP is not generally offered every bit an at-home test kit, some of the 14 components of the console, such as the measurements ordinarily included in a liver panel, may exist available with an calm kit. In these kits, yous take a fingerstick blood sample and ship that sample past postal service to a laboratory where it can be analyzed.

How much does the test cost?

There is non a set price for the comprehensive metabolic panel. Instead, the price depends on whether you have insurance coverage and where the blood sample is taken and analyzed.

The charges for CMP testing can involve the fees for the technician who draws your blood, the lab'southward fees for assay, and the costs for any office visits. Many wellness insurance plans provide at to the lowest degree partial coverage for these costs if they are prescribed by your doctor and care is provided within the provider's network.

For specific details about expected costs, contact your medico's office and your insurance provider, and brand certain to ask about whatever copays or deductibles that you may be responsible for paying.

Taking the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

A blood sample is needed for the comprehensive metabolic panel. All 14 measurements in the panel are conducted with the same sample, which is taken from a vein in your arm. This blood describe is normally done in a wellness clinic, physician's office, infirmary, or laboratory.

Before the test

Y'all may demand to fast before your blood draw for a CMP. This means that you don't eat any nutrient and don't have anything to drink as well water. In nearly cases, you lot volition fast for 10-12 hours before the exam, but you should follow any specific instructions provided by your medico'south office.

In training for the exam, you should likewise inform your doctor nearly any medications or dietary supplements that you regularly take. Your medico can then tell you whether you need to conform your medication schedule before taking your blood sample.

During the test

A blood depict is a routine process that generally takes less than a few minutes. While you are seated, a technician will tie an elastic band around the upper section of your arm. They will utilize an clarified to clean the part of your arm where your blood will be fatigued. A needle volition be inserted into your vein, and a vial of claret will be withdrawn.

You may feel some hurting, often a brief sting, when the needle is inserted into and removed from your arm.

After the test

After a vial of blood has been drawn, the needle is removed to finish the process. The technician will usually apply a swab or bandage to end bleeding from the puncture site. Some people observe that their arm is tender or may take bruising after their blood is drawn, only serious or lasting effects are uncommon.

Because you take to fast before the test, you may desire to bring something with yous to eat afterward your blood has been fatigued. After the exam is over, you can drive and return to most normal activities.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Results

Receiving test results

The comprehensive metabolic panel is a relatively routine exam, and laboratories can usually have results bachelor within a few business days subsequently they have received your blood sample.

Your doctor'south office may contact you lot to draw or hash out your test results. In many cases, you will receive your results in the mail or can access them through an online health portal.

Interpreting test results

A test report for a comprehensive metabolic panel will typically list each of the 14 items measured and what the levels were in your sample. Be aware that several different units are used depending on the specific measurement.

The exam report should also list the reference range for each of these 14 items. This is of import because non all laboratories utilize exactly the same methods to measure out the components of the CMP. The range of normal results can vary by laboratory, so information technology is of import to consider your test levels in the context of the reference range listed for the lab that analyzed your sample.

To illustrate the potential differences in reference ranges, the following table shows mutual normal ranges as described by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the National Library of Medicine's A.D.A.Thousand. Medical Encyclopedia:

Measurement National Library of Medicine A.D.A.One thousand. Medical Encyclopedia Reference Range American Lath of Internal Medicine Reference Range
Glucose 70 to 100 mg/dL 70 to 99 mg/dL
Calcium 8.5 to x.2 mg/dL 8.6 to 10.2 mg/dL
Sodium 135 to 145 mEq/L 136 to 145 mEq/L
Potassium 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L iii.five to 5.0 mEq/50
Bicarbonate 23 to 29 mEq/L 23 to 28 mEq/L
Chloride 96 to 106 mEq/Fifty 98 to 106 mEq/50
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) six to 20 mg/dL 8 to 20 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.half dozen to 1.three mg/dL Female: 0.v to 1.10 mg/dL; Male: 0.seven to 1.30 mg/dL
Albumin 3.4 to 5.4 k/dL 3.5 to five.five yard/dL
Total Protein 6.0 to eight.3 thousand/dL five.5 to nine.0 yard/dL
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) 20 to 130 U/50 30 to 120 U/50
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) 4 to 36 U/L 10 to 40 U/Fifty
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) 8 to 33 U/L x to forty U/L
Bilirubin 0.one to i.ii mg/dL 0.three to 1.0 mg/dL

Your doctor is in the all-time position to explain and interpret your CMP test results. The dr. will look to meet whether any measurements are abnormally high or low. For aberrant levels, they may consider the caste to which they vary from the laboratory's reference range.

Interpreting examination results often means reviewing each level in the context of the test's other measurements. Patterns relating to which levels are abnormal tin can provide meaningful data for the dr. to try to sympathize the underlying cause of your results. These patterns tin aid evaluate your kidney and liver status likewise as your metabolic health.

Exercise I need follow-up tests?

Follow-up tests may be recommended after a comprehensive metabolic console, but this depends on your exam results as well equally your health history and current wellness, including whatever ongoing symptoms or concerns.

If your examination results suggest a possible health problem, such every bit disrupted liver or kidney function, the doc may prescribe additional claret or imaging tests to learn more than about your situation. In some cases, the CMP may be repeated at a later appointment to see if your results remain abnormal.

Questions for your doc nearly exam results

Once you have results back from your CMP, you tin can discuss what they mean with your doctor, and some of these questions may help y'all understand the significance of your examination study:

  • Were any of the measurements on my examination abnormal? If so, which ones?
  • What might explain whatsoever aberrant results?
  • Based on my CMP results, are there whatever other tests that you recommend?
  • Should I take the CMP test again? If so, when should information technology exist washed?

Related Tests

There is overlap between the comprehensive metabolic panel and other types of lab tests. The following sections provide more data about tests related to the CMP.

How is the comprehensive metabolic panel different from the basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

Both the comprehensive metabolic panel and the basic metabolic panel are blood tests, but, as the names indicate, the CMP involves more than measurements than the BMP. The CMP includes fourteen components, and the BMP typically has 8. The following table illustrates the parts of the typical BMP and CMP:

Measurement Bones Metabolic Panel Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Glucose

✔

✔
Calcium

✔

✔
Sodium

✔

✔
Potassium

✔

✔
Bicarbonate

✔

✔
Chloride

✔

✔
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

✔

✔
Creatinine

✔

✔
Albumin

✔
Total Protein

✔
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

✔
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

✔
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

✔
Bilirubin

✔

As this demonstrates, all of the measurements in the BMP are also in the CMP. However, the CMP adds the tests found in a typical liver panel test.

Other related tests

Each of the components of the CMP tin be measured lone or every bit parts of other types of panel tests. The links below provide more information about each specific measurement included in the CMP:

  • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
  • Albumin
  • Bicarbonate
  • Bilirubin
  • Claret Urea Nitrogen
  • Calcium
  • Chloride
  • Creatinine
  • Glucose Tests
  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Total Protein (TP)

Sources and Resources

The comprehensive metabolic panel is a way to assess diverse elements of health. The post-obit links provide background information about some of these elements:

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Liver Disease
  • National Constitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Kidney Disease
  • CDC: Diabetes
  • National Library of Medicine: Fluid and Electrolyte Remainder

Sources

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A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Basic metabolic console. Updated April 29, 2019. Accessed May 13, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003462.htm

A.D.A.G. Medical Encyclopedia. BUN – blood examination. Updated Apr 29, 2019. Accessed May 13, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003474.htm

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American Board of Internal Medicine. ABIM laboratory test reference ranges. Updated Jan 2021. Accessed May 13, 2021. https://www.abim.org/Media/bfijryql/laboratory-reference-ranges.pdf

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Givler DN, Givler A. Health screening. In: StatPearls. Updated January 20, 2021. Accessed May 14, 2021. https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436014/

Kwo PY, Cohen SM, Lim JK. ACG Clinical Guideline: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Chemistries.Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(i):18-35. doi:ten.1038/ajg.2016.517

MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Albumin blood test. Updated July 30, 2020. Accessed May xiii, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/albumin-blood-test/

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