Basic metabolic panel

Basic metabolic panel
Diagnostics
MedlinePlus	003462
LOINC	24320-4, 24321-2, 51990-0

A basic metabolic panel (BMP) (also urea and electrolytes or U&E, or urea, electrolytes, creatinine, or UEC or EUC in some countries) is a set of seven or eight blood chemical tests and is one of the most common lab tests ordered by health care providers. The BMP provides key information regarding fluid and electrolyte status, kidney function, blood sugar levels, and response to various medications and other medical therapies. It is frequently employed as a screening tool during a physical exam.

The basic metabolic panel is a simpler version of the Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), which includes tests for liver function.

Components

The version with seven tests is often referred to by medical professionals in USA as the "CHEM-7", or "SMA-7" (Sequential Multiple Analysis-7). Because it is such a common test, this term is commonly sprinkled into the scripts of popular American TV medical dramas, increasing public exposure to the term.

The seven parts of a CHEM-7 are tests for:

• Four electrolytes:
  • sodium (Na⁺)
  • potassium (K⁺)
  • chloride (Cl⁻)
  • bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) or CO₂
• blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• creatinine
• glucose

These levels, taken as a set, can be rapidly performed to indicate several common acute conditions requiring immediate specific medical treatment, such as dehydration/hypovolemia, water intoxication (which can present with similar symptoms as dehydration but requires the opposite treatment), diabetic shock (either ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia), congestive heart failure, renal failure or liver failure, various substance overdoses or adverse reactions, and others. A Chem-7 is thus a vital tool when attempting to stabilize a patient.

Calcium (Ca²⁺) is often considered part of the BMP, though, by definition, it is not part of the CHEM-7. A basic metabolic panel including calcium is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "CHEM-8". Calcium, as a light alkali metal, is also an electrolyte, but abnormalities are more commonly associated with malnutrition, osteoporosis, or malignancy, especially of the thyroid.

Reporting

Pathophysiology sample values

BMP/ELECTROLYTES:
Na+ = 140	Cl− = 100	BUN = 20	/
			Glu = 150
K+ = 4	CO2 = 22	PCr = 1.0	\
ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS:
HCO3− = 24	paCO2 = 40	paO2 = 95	pH = 7.40
ALVEOLAR GAS:
	pACO2 = 36	pAO2 = 105	A-a g = 10
OTHER:
Ca = 9.5	Mg2+ = 2.0	PO4 = 1
CK = 55	BE = −0.36	AG = 16
SERUM OSMOLARITY/RENAL:
PMO = 300	PCO = 295	POG = 5	BUN:Cr = 20
URINALYSIS:
UNa+ = 80	UCl− = 100	UAG = 5	FENa = 0.95
UK+ = 25	USG = 1.01	UCr = 60	UO = 800
PROTEIN/GI/LIVER FUNCTION TESTS:
LDH = 100	TP = 7.6	AST = 25	TBIL = 0.7
ALP = 71	Alb = 4.0	ALT = 40	BC = 0.5
		AST/ALT = 0.6	BU = 0.2
AF alb = 3.0	SAAG = 1.0		SOG = 60
CSF:
CSF alb = 30	CSF glu = 60	CSF/S alb = 7.5	CSF/S glu = 0.4

These lab values are often listed in a standard grid:

Na+	Cl−	BUN
K+	HCO3	creatinine

Glucose (and sometimes calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus) are listed to the right of this grid, but there is greater variation in how these values are reported.

See also

• Blood test
• Reference ranges for common blood tests