Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP8) Blood Test

Description

The basic metabolic panel is a series of 8 blood tests that provides information about your body’s metabolism The BMP blood test evaluates kidney function, blood acid/base balance, and glucose or blood sugar levels.

The BMP blood test includes the following tests:
· Glucose – Also known as blood sugar must remain a relatively constant level in the blood.

Electrolytes and fluids

• Sodium – vital to normal body processes, including nerve and muscle function
• Potassium – vital to cell metabolism and muscle function
•  CO2 (carbon dioxide, bicarbonate) – helps to maintain the body’s ph or acid-base balance
• Chloride – helps to regulate the amount of fluid in the body and maintain the acid-base balance
• Calcium – essential for the proper functioning of muscles, nerves, and the heart.

Kidney Tests

• Creatinine – waste product produced in the muscles; it is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys so blood levels are a good indication of how well the kidneys are working.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) – waste product filtered out of the blood by the kidneys; conditions that affect the kidney have the potential to affect the amount of urea in the blood.
• Bun/Creatinine Ratio Calculated by dividing the BUN by the Creatinine.