The basic metabolic panel is a group of blood tests that provides information about your body's metabolism.
A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.
You should not eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.
This test is done to evaluate:
Kidney function
Blood acid/base balance
Blood sugar levels
In some cases, the test also is used to check blood levels of calcium and a protein called albumin.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results can be due to a variety of different medical conditions, including kidney failure, breathing problems, diabetes or diabetes-related complications, and medicine side effects. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your results from each test.
The basic metabolic panel typically measures these substances in a sample of blood:
BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
Creatinine
CO2 (carbon dioxide)
Glucose
Serum chloride
Serum potassium
Serum sodium
