Comprehensive metabolic panel: what is included

In shortA comprehensive metabolic panel measures 14 substances in one blood sample: glucose, calcium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, albumin, total protein, ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, BUN, and creatinine. Fasting for several hours may be required before the draw.

What this panel covers

A comprehensive metabolic panel is a routine blood test that measures 14 different substances in a sample of blood, giving information about metabolism — how the body uses food and energy — and about the balance of certain chemicals.

The 14 measurements group into families. Glucose is the body's main source of energy. Calcium is one of the most important minerals, most of it stored in bones and teeth, with the blood level kept right for the nerves, muscles, and heart. Sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, and chloride are electrolytes — electrically charged minerals that control the amount of fluid in the body and the acid-base balance. Albumin is the main blood protein, made by the liver; total protein includes albumin and the globulins, also mainly liver-made.

The rest of the panel watches two organs. ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) are enzymes made mainly in the liver, and bilirubin is a waste product of red blood cell breakdown that the liver removes. BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are waste products that the kidneys filter out of the blood and remove through urine. Together they sketch liver and kidney function in one draw.

The panel is commonly used as part of a routine checkup: it provides information about overall health and can help find certain conditions before symptoms appear — liver and kidney health, blood glucose, and protein levels among them. Fasting — no food or drink — for several hours before the test may be required.

Markers on the panel

Blood glucose Calcium Sodium Potassium Albumin Total protein Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)ALT (alanine transaminase)AST (aspartate transaminase)Bilirubin BUN (blood urea nitrogen)Creatinine Magnesium C-peptide

Why it is ordered

As part of a routine checkup, to get information about overall health and to find certain conditions before symptoms appear. The panel checks liver and kidney health, blood glucose, protein levels, and the electrolyte and acid-base balance in one draw.

How to prepare

Fasting — nothing to eat or drink — for several hours before the test may be needed. The provider's instructions for the specific order decide.

How to read the report

The report lists the level of each of the 14 substances next to the laboratory's reference ranges. The lines are read in families — glucose on its own; the four electrolytes together; the two proteins together; the liver enzymes and bilirubin together; BUN and creatinine together — because an abnormal value usually means more in the company of its family than alone. One out-of-range value is a prompt for context and possibly a repeat, not a verdict.

Several markers on your report?

See how MedProtect explains results in the app: the whole report, a check of the recognized values, and a clear breakdown.

Get your results explained See an example

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a BMP and a CMP?

The basic metabolic panel covers the core group — glucose, calcium, the electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine. The comprehensive panel adds the liver side: albumin, total protein, ALP, ALT, AST, and bilirubin, for 14 measurements in total.

Is fasting really needed?

It may be — fasting for several hours before the test keeps food from shifting the glucose and other readings. Whether it applies to a given order is stated in the provider's instructions.

Can one abnormal value be a fluke?

Yes. The panel is a screen across 14 substances; a single out-of-range value is read against symptoms, history, and the rest of the panel, and a repeat test is a common next step.

Sources

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): MedlinePlus Medical Test — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 29, 2026.