Which tests are included in a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)?

A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is an important tool used in clinical chemistry that provides a broad assessment of a person's metabolic state and can help detect various health conditions. The CMP includes tests that measure important constituents in the blood, specifically incorporating both the basic metabolic panel and additional tests.

The basic metabolic panel generally consists of measurements of glucose, electrolytes, and kidney function markers such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. In addition, the CMP expands on this by including protein levels, which assess the body’s protein status, and liver enzymes, which are crucial for evaluating liver function. These additional tests provide vital information about overall metabolism and organ health.

Including both the basic metabolic panel tests and the additional protein and liver enzyme tests is what distinguishes the CMP from other test panels, thereby making the comprehensive metabolic panel a more complete diagnostic tool for understanding a patient’s health status.