Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Tests

A comprehensive metabolic panel measures glucose, electrolytes, calcium, proteins, kidney-related values, and liver-related values in one blood draw. The Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (includes eGFR) includes sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, albumin, globulin, total protein, and glucose. The grouped results help identify patterns that deserve clinical discussion rather than diagnosing a condition by themselves.

BUN and creatinine are waste-related blood measurements, while eGFR is an estimate derived from creatinine that is used to assess filtration. Looking at all three is more informative than focusing on one value. Hydration, recent protein intake, muscle mass, and other factors can influence BUN or creatinine, so a single abnormal result should be interpreted alongside prior testing and clinical history.

ALT and AST are enzymes often reviewed in relation to liver cells, alkaline phosphatase is interpreted with liver and bile-flow patterns, and bilirubin reflects breakdown and processing of red blood cell pigment. Albumin and total protein add another perspective on protein status and liver-related function. Exercise can raise AST and sometimes ALT, so recent activity and other results affect interpretation.

Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (CMP) (includes eGFR) with Creatine Kinase includes the core CMP measurements plus total creatine kinase. Creatine kinase is an enzyme associated with muscle tissue and may rise after strenuous exercise, injury, or other muscle stress. It is a practical option when a metabolic review and a muscle-enzyme measurement are both part of the question.

CBC & CMP is useful when metabolic values need to be viewed with blood cell measurements. It adds white and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW to the CMP. For example, hemoglobin and hematocrit describe oxygen-carrying red-cell quantity, while MCV and RDW describe red-cell size patterns that a CMP does not measure.

Anemia Profile (Advanced) with CMP adds ferritin, iron, iron binding capacity, percent saturation, folate, vitamin B12, and reticulocyte measurements beyond the CBC and CMP components. Ferritin helps assess stored iron, while iron and percent saturation describe circulating iron availability. Reticulocytes reflect newly produced red blood cells. These results help clarify red-cell patterns but do not establish a cause without professional interpretation.

Albumin and globulin are major blood proteins, and total protein reflects their combined amount. The albumin/globulin ratio compares their relationship. These values are commonly reviewed with bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, ALT, and AST because protein and enzyme results can form different patterns. Nutrition, hydration, inflammation, and liver-related factors can affect protein values, so they should not be interpreted in isolation.

Yes, the Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (includes eGFR) measures glucose, a blood sugar value at the time of collection. Glucose can vary with meals, fasting status, illness, stress, and medicines. A CMP glucose result is useful for a current measurement, but it does not provide the longer-term blood sugar picture supplied by tests designed to reflect average glucose over time.

Hydration, recent strenuous exercise, diet, muscle mass, and timing of collection can affect several CMP values. Muscle mass can influence creatinine, exercise can raise AST, ALT, or creatine kinase, and fluid balance can shift electrolyte or protein concentrations. Comparing results over time and reviewing them with symptoms, medical history, and other laboratory findings gives a more reliable interpretation than reacting to one number.

SMAC stands for Sequential Multichannel Analyzer Computerized, an older term for an automated chemistry panel. A SMAC blood test may also appear as SMAC 25 or Chem 25 on older orders. These labels do not define one universally standardized set of measurements, so they should not be treated as exact synonyms for every current comprehensive metabolic panel. The Chemistry Panel (SMAC 25) offered here includes the core glucose, electrolyte, protein, kidney-related, and liver-related measurements, then adds a lipid panel, creatine kinase, GGT, LD, magnesium, phosphate, uric acid, amylase, and lactic acid. If an older order specifies SMAC 25, compare its requested measurements with this panel or ask the ordering professional which results are needed.

You'll receive it via email within 60 seconds of your order unless it requires additional processing (only very complex orders do).

Many general wellness test results are typically available online within 2-3 business days. However, some tests will require additional processing time. You will immediately receive an email & SMS notification when your results are available.

We do not share your results with your physician, insurance company, or any other third party.