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Cost of basic metabolic panel by state

The following estimated costs are based on cash prices that providers have historically charged on average for basic metabolic panel and will vary depending on where the service is done. The prices do not include the anesthesia, imaging, and other doctor visit fees that normally accompany basic metabolic panel.

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StateName Average Cash Price
Alabama $53
Alaska $72
Arizona $60
Arkansas $53
California $66
Colorado $58
Connecticut $64
Delaware $62
District of Columbia $61
Florida $58
Georgia $55
Hawaii $55
Idaho $54
Illinois $61
Indiana $56
Iowa $51
Kansas $52
Kentucky $54
Louisiana $60
Maine $54
Maryland $63
Massachusetts $65
Michigan $60
Minnesota $68
Mississippi $54
Missouri $54
Montana $56
Nebraska $54
Nevada $57
New Hampshire $58
New Jersey $70
New Mexico $53
New York $66
North Carolina $53
North Dakota $59
Ohio $55
Oklahoma $59
Oregon $60
Pennsylvania $62
Rhode Island $66
South Carolina $56
South Dakota $52
Tennessee $53
Texas $57
Utah $60
Vermont $58
Virginia $57
Washington $63
West Virginia $57
Wisconsin $60
Wyoming $58

What is a basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

A basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a blood test that measures your body’s blood sugar level, kidney function, and the balance of your fluids and electrolytes. It provides information about your body’s metabolism.

A BMP measures eight factors of your metabolism:

  • Glucose for blood sugar monitoring
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) for kidney function 
  • Creatinine for kidney function
  • Calcium
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Chloride
  • Bicarbonate 

The latter five factors are all measured to monitor your body’s electrolyte balance.

Why is a basic metabolic panel ordered?

A BMP is ordered for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring health problems. Your doctor may order a BMP as part of your annual physical to screen for potential health problems before they cause any symptoms. BMP is part of the routine blood work doctors request for all patients.

Your doctor will order a BMP if you show symptoms related to your kidney function, blood sugar levels, or electrolyte balance. You may need a BMP if you suffer from fatigue, high blood pressure, or other chronic illnesses. This panel is used to detect or rule out health problems.

If you have kidney disease or diabetes, your doctor may order this panel to help monitor your disease. It’s normal for your doctor to order a BMP at every follow-up appointment for disease management.

Is fasting required for a basic metabolic panel?

Yes, fasting is required for a BMP. You will need to fast for a period of 8 to 12 hours before getting your blood taken. You are not allowed to eat anything, and you can only drink calorie-free fluids like water. You are allowed to continue taking your medications as prescribed.

Fasting ensures the results of your blood work are accurate. Eating or drinking before your BMP can cause your blood sugar to spike and leave you with inaccurate glucose measurements. It also affects your electrolyte balance and can lead to erroneous results regarding your kidney function.

How long does a metabolic panel take?

Your BMP is taken from a blood sample and can be drawn at your doctor’s office or in a lab. It only takes a few minutes for a nurse or phlebotomist to draw your blood. 

They’ll use a small needle to extract blood from a vein in your arm into a test tube. Once they have collected the amount of blood they need, they remove the needle and put gauze or a bandaid over the site to stop the bleeding. Most blood work like BMPs can be completed in about 5 to 10 minutes.

The results of a metabolic panel can take anywhere from 24 hours to a couple of weeks to come back to your doctor.

What can a metabolic panel tell you?

A metabolic panel tells you how your metabolism is functioning. Your metabolism is how your body breaks down food and uses it for energy. It can tell you how your kidneys are functioning and if your blood sugar is under control. 

A BMP monitors your body’s electrolyte levels and can tell you if they are out of balance, indicating problems in your kidneys. Electrolyte levels are also crucial for normal bodily functions, including the movement of your muscles, rhythm of your heart, and regular operation of your brain.

What is included in a BMP and CMP?

A basic metabolic panel and a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) measure substances in your blood that affect your metabolism. A BMP is a more straightforward test that only checks eight substances in your blood, while the CMP test covers the eight substances of the BMP plus six additional measurements.

A CMP includes measurements of:

  • Albumin
  • Total protein levels
  • Alanine amino transferace (ALT)
  • Aspartate amino transferace (AST)
  • Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
  • Bilirubin

These substances measure enzymes and proteins found in your blood that are used to detect and diagnose problems with your kidneys and liver.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.