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.
