Comprehensive metabolic panel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP; CPT code 80053) is a standard suite of 14 blood tests which serves as an initial broad screening tool for physicians. Because it is often ordered as a routine part of an annual physical examination or check up, over time the CMP provides an important baseline of a patient's basic physiology. Any changes or abnormal results, and in particular combinations of abnormal results, thus provides important initial data for differential diagnosis, in which case more specialized tests may be indicated. In and of itself, however, the CMP provides an important gross check on the status of kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte and fluid balance.

In addition to being used at routine physicals of healthy patients, the CMP is routinely administered to monitor the status of a patient with a chronic disease, such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

1 Testing
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Testing

Typically, the patient fasts for ten or twelve hours before the blood is drawn for the test. The following tests are then performed:^[1]

[edit] General tests

These tests help screen for a wide variety of problems. The glucose test in particular helps screen for diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT or GTT)
Calcium

[edit] Protein tests

Tests of protein levels in the blood help screen for both kidney and liver disorders.

Human serum albumin
Serum total protein (TP)

[edit] Electrolytes

Electrolyte levels and the balance among them are tightly regulated by the body. Both individual values and ratios among the values are significant; abnormalities among either can indicate problems such as an electrolyte disturbance, acid-base imbalance, or kidney dysfunction.