Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Plasma
Quest Diagnostics
Sample type: Plasma
Requires fasting: No
Phlebotomy required
Details
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is a thorough blood test that checks for levels of various substances in your blood, such as electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, and glucose. It also evaluates how well your kidneys and liver are working and your body's acid-base balance. This test is often part of a routine health check-up to spot any disorders, particularly those affecting the liver or kidneys.
- Creatinine
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio
- Total Bilirubin
- Globulin (Calculated)
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- Albumin
- Calcium
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Carbon Dioxide
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- Glucose (Blood)
- Protein, Total
Estimated days for results: Results should be available in 2 - 5 business days after the sample is collected
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
This is a thorough blood test that checks for levels of various substances in your blood, such as electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, and glucose. It also evaluates how well your kidneys and liver are working and your body's acid-base balance. This test is often part of a routine health check-up to spot any disorders, particularly those affecting the liver or kidneys.
This is a thorough blood test that checks for levels of various substances in your blood, such as electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, and glucose. It also evaluates how well your kidneys and liver are working and your body's acid-base balance. This test is often part of a routine health check-up to spot any disorders, particularly those affecting the liver or kidneys.
What does this test measure?
- Sodium: Helps maintain proper fluid balance and pressure in and around your cells.
- Potassium: Crucial for muscle and nerve function and fluid balance.
- Chloride: Helps keep the fluid volume, acidity, and electrical neutrality in check.
- Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate): Assesses your body's acid-base balance.
- Glucose: The main energy source for your body, important for diagnosing diabetes.
- Calcium: Vital for nerve, muscle, and heart functions, and bone health.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) & Creatinine: Indicators of kidney function and waste removal efficiency.
- eGFR: Estimates kidney function based on creatinine levels, age, and sex.
- Phosphate: Essential for energy production, muscle and nerve function, and bone health.
- Albumin & Total Protein: Key proteins in your blood, indicating overall health and liver function.
- Total Bilirubin: Helps identify liver and blood disorders.
- Alkaline Phosphatase, AST, & ALT: Enzymes that indicate liver health and potential damage.
Who might need this test?
Providers might order this test during a routine health examination or if you're experiencing symptoms that could indicate liver or kidney issues, electrolyte imbalances, or diabetes.
What type of sample is required?
1 mL of plasma collected in a lithium heparin (green-top) tube is needed for this test.
2–5 business days
Fasting for 8 hours before your blood draw is recommended but not required.
- Fasting before a blood draw means you don't eat or drink anything except water.
- Your doctor should provide any special instructions related to fasting for your test. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
Blood Draw Options with Fullscript
Fullscript offers several convenient phlebotomy options to complete your lab testing:
Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Centers (PSC)
- Location: Visit a nearby Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center.
- Cost: $10 sample collection fee (paid during lab order checkout).
- Scheduling: Schedule your appointment here. Appointments are recommended to reduce wait times. Walk-ins are accepted, but may experience delays. Aim to arrive 10 minutes before your appointment.
- Collection Instructions:
- Bring a valid ID.
- Bring your digital or printed requisition form, available in the Labs tab of your Fullscript account.
- Check-in: Scan the QR code from your confirmation email or follow kiosk instructions.
- More Info: Quest Diagnostics blood draw guide
Getlabs Mobile Phlebotomy
- Location: Sample collection at your home or office.
- Cost: $85 sample collection fee (paid during lab order checkout).
- Availability: Available in most locations – enter your ZIP code during checkout to confirm.
- Scheduling: Schedule your appointment here through your Fullscript account.
- Collection Instructions:
- Have your digital or printed requisition form and valid ID ready.
- Your phlebotomist will contact you by phone to coordinate arrival.
- More Info: Getlabs blood draw guide
Specimen
- Preferred Specimen(s): 1 mL plasma collected in a lithium heparin (green-top) tube
- Alternative: NA
- Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
- Collection Instructions: NA
Storage and shipping instructions
- Transport Container: Transport tube
- Transport Temperature: Room Temperature
- Specimen Stability:
- Room temperature: 72 hours
- Refrigerated: 72 hours
- Reject Criteria: NA
State restrictions:
Patient can't order this test if they are located in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island
