Metabolic Panel

A Metabolic Panel is a group of blood tests that measure different chemicals in the blood. It provides information about your body's chemical balance and metabolism. This panel can be divided into two main types: the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) and the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP).

Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP): It typically includes eight tests that measure glucose level, calcium, and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine. This panel gives an overview of your body's energy use (metabolism), kidney function, and electrolyte and acid/base balance.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP):** This includes all of the tests in a BMP plus additional tests that provide insight into your liver's function. These additional tests measure proteins such as albumin and total protein, and liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Metabolic panels are commonly used in routine health examinations and the monitoring of specific conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease. The results can help detect abnormalities that require further investigation or management.