Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) Components
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel includes 14 tests: glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide (bicarbonate), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, plus the liver function tests—alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin. 1, 2
Core Metabolic Components (Also in BMP)
The CMP contains all 8 components of a Basic Metabolic Panel 1, 2:
- Glucose - assesses blood sugar levels and screens for diabetes 2
- Sodium - evaluates electrolyte balance and fluid status 2
- Potassium - critical for cardiac function and acid-base balance 2
- Chloride - reflects electrolyte and acid-base homeostasis 2
- Carbon dioxide (CO2/bicarbonate) - measures acid-base status 2
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - indicates kidney function and hydration status 2
- Creatinine - assesses renal filtration capacity 2
- Calcium - evaluates mineral balance and parathyroid function 2
Additional Liver Function Tests (CMP Only)
The CMP adds 6 liver-related tests not included in the BMP 1, 3:
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) - hepatocellular injury marker 3
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) - liver and cardiac tissue damage indicator 3
- Alkaline phosphatase - biliary obstruction and bone disease marker 3
- Total bilirubin - liver function and hemolysis indicator 3
- Total protein - reflects nutritional status and liver synthetic function 3
- Albumin - measures liver synthetic capacity and nutritional state 3
Clinical Applications
Order a CMP rather than BMP when comprehensive metabolic assessment is needed, particularly in these scenarios 1:
- Initial evaluation of suspected liver disease (right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, hepatomegaly, ascites) 3
- Cancer patients requiring comprehensive metabolic monitoring 4, 1
- Patients with malignancy, heart disease, or bleeding disorders 3
- Follow-up after major surgeries like nephrectomy 1
- Evaluation of polyneuropathy (as part of comprehensive screening) 4
- Assessment of patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases on immunosuppressive therapy 4
The CMP provides both kidney function assessment and liver function evaluation in a single panel, making it more comprehensive than the BMP for initial diagnostic workups 1, 2.