CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)

A CMP is a blood test that measures how well your metabolism functions. The panel actually consists of 14 blood tests that evaluate your kidneys and liver, electrolyte and fluid balance, blood sugar and calcium levels, and more.¹

The panel typically includes the following tests:

• Glucose: provides energy for the body, an important measure of diabetic symptoms²

• Calcium: required for proper function of muscles, nerves, heart, blood clotting and bone formation

• Proteins: albumin, a protein manufactured in the liver and the major component of the liquid part of blood (serum), and total protein, a measure of proteins in the serum

• Electrolytes: sodium, required for muscle and nerve function, potassium, necessary for muscle function and cell metabolism, carbon dioxide, which helps maintain the body’s pH balance, and chloride, which regulates fluid in the body and contributes to the body’s pH balance.

• Kidney Tests: blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, waste products filtered out of the blood by the kidneys

• Liver Tests: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme found in the liver and other tissues, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an enzyme found in the liver and kidney, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), an enzyme found in the heart and liver, bilirubin, a waste product of the liver.³

The CMP requires a blood sample obtained via routine blood draw, and is typically requested via a doctor’s order. You may be required to fast for 10 - 12 hours prior to your test.⁴

You should follow up with your doctor to discuss your test results.

Both the basic metabolic panel (BMP) and the CMP are similar laboratory tests, but the BMP only includes 8 tests, whereas the CMP includes 14.⁵ A BMP often excludes liver and protein tests and only includes:

• Blood sugar (glucose)
• Calcium
• Electrolytes

May include tests like creatinine to evaluate your kidney function.⁶

The CMP is a routine blood test and is often included as part of a yearly checkup or regular medical exam. The panel typically only alerts the ordering provider of abnormalities, and more specific follow-up testing is often recommended to identify a specific medical condition.⁷

^1,3,4,5,7 AACC. “Comprehensive Metabolic Panel.” Lab Tests Online. https://labtestsonline.org/tests/comprehensive-metabolic-panel-cmp
² Healthline. “Blood Glucose Test.” https://www.healthline.com/health/glucose-test-blood
⁶ Medline Plus. “Metabolic Panel.” https://medlineplus.gov/metabolicpanel.html