Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A blood sample is used to perform a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which analyzes 14 distinct chemicals in the blood.
Information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism is provided by this test, which sheds an insight into how your body transforms the food you eat into energy.
There are a number of medical disorders for which a CMP can be used as a standard blood test or screening tool. A series of blood tests known as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) provides your doctor with a comprehensive picture of your body’s chemistry and how it utilizes energy (your metabolism).
What is checked during CMP?
The following chemicals in your blood are measured by a comprehensive metabolic panel:
Glucose
Your brain and body both benefit from this form of sugar, and it is also called Blood sugar which is another name for glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is generally diagnosed by elevated fasting blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is typically identified by abnormally high blood glucose levels, whether measured during a fast or not.
Calcium
Among your body’s many minerals, you’ll find plenty of calcium. Although your bones retain the majority of your calcium, you also require calcium in your blood. For the efficient functioning of your nervous system, muscles, and heart, you need calcium in your blood.
Protein in Total
Albumin and globulins are proteins in your blood, and this is a measurement of the overall quantity of protein in your blood.
Bilirubin
The disintegration of red blood cells produces this by-product. Bilirubin removal is the responsibility of your liver.
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Urea nitrogen, a waste product your kidneys assist eliminate from your blood, is measured here.
Creatinine
Muscle contractions produce this as a by-product. What your kidneys eliminate is a waste product.
Albumin
Your liver produces this protein. Keeping fluid from seeping out of your blood vessels is one of its primary functions.
The following four electrolytes can also be assessed with a CMP:
Sodium
Food contains the majority of your salt intake, and your kidneys work to keep your sodium levels in check.
Potassium
Potassium is found in the food you eat and in all of your body’s organs and tissues.
Bicarbonate
Your blood’s carbon dioxide (CO2) level is measured by bicarbonate.
Chloride
Sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate all work together to regulate a wide range of bodily functions.
The following three liver enzymes are also tested by a CMP:
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
- Alanine transaminase (ALT)
The importance of having Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is typically used by healthcare providers to gain a comprehensive assessment of ones overall physical health.
Several bodily processes and functions can be examined using its 14 measures, including:
- The health of your liver and kidneys
- Your blood’s acid-base balance
- Your glucose levels in the blood
- Your body’s fluid and electrolyte levels
Depending on the circumstances, your healthcare physician may request that you undergo a CMP based on the following reasons:
Diagnosis
A CMP can aid in the diagnosis of a number of medical issues.
Screening
The term “screening” refers to the process of looking for potential health problems before they manifest as symptoms.
Monitoring
A CMP can assist your doctor identify if your treatment is effective if you have a certain medical problem.
CMPs can also be used to screen for possible side effects of some drugs, particularly those that may harm your liver or kidneys.
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel process from start to finish
To be able to run a thorough comprehensive metabolic panel, a blood sample is required. The same blood sample, drawn from a vein in your arm, is used for all 14 measurements on the panel.
It is most commonly performed in a health clinic, doctor’s office, hospital, or laboratory.
Before the test
For a CMP, you may be required to fast before to the blood draw. This means you can just drink water and have no food or drink available to you.
Your doctor’s office may have particular recommendations about how long you should fast before the test. if so, you should follow them.
You should also tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you take on a regular basis in order to prepare for the test.
During the test
It takes no more than a few minutes to perform a basic blood draw. An elastic band will be tied around the top section of your arm while you are seated by a technician.
They will disinfect the area where your blood will be drawn with an antiseptic. In order to draw blood, a needle will be put into your vein and a vial will be taken.
Inserting and removing the needle from your arm may cause some discomfort, though it’s usually only a fleeting sting.
After the test
Once the blood has been collected in a vial, the operation is completed by removing the needle. A swab or bandage may be applied to the puncture site to stop the bleeding.
After a blood draw, some people experience tenderness or bruising in their arm, but serious or long-lasting side effects are rare.
Because you must fast for at least eight hours prior to the test, you may wish to bring a light snack with you. After completing the test, you’ll be able to resume your daily routine.
When results are typically expected
In most cases, the findings of a thorough metabolic panel are available within a few business days like 5 days after receiving your blood sample.
You may receive your test results in the mail or through an online health portal in many circumstances. Each of the 14 components of a comprehensive metabolic panel will be listed in your sample’s test results, along with the amounts of each component.
The reference ranges for each of these 14 things should also be included in the test report. As a result, the CMP components are not consistently measured across all laboratories.
Because each laboratory’s typical result range varies, it’s critical to compare your test results to the range indicated for the lab that performed the analysis on your sample.
Range of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Cost
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP )can cost anywhere from $11 to $82 depending on its complexity.
High-deductible health plans and those without insurance can save money by purchasing their procedure in advance.
The full metabolic panel does not have a predetermined pricing. As an alternative, the price is determined by your insurance plan and the location where your blood is drawn and tested.
There are a variety of costs associated with CMP testing, including the cost of your blood being drawn, the cost of the lab’s analysis, and the cost of your doctor’s appointment.
Conclusion
The 14 tests on the CMP screening panel examine your metabolism. In addition to electrolyte and acid/base balance, blood sugar, and blood proteins are all assessed during these examinations.
Mineral salts known as electrolytes play an important role in a variety of cellular functions, including the regulation of fluid and pH levels in the body.
Labs would perform 14 common tests, however, they can be altered by your healthcare physician if necessary. When a CMP test is abnormal, it does not necessarily indicate that you are suffering from any sort of medical problem.
Your test results may be affected by factors such as your diet, medications, and health problems.