Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) Blood Test

Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

What Is a Basic Metabolic Panel Test and Why Is It Done?

The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a blood test that measures things like fluid balance, blood sugar, and certain chemicals called electrolytes in blood. A BMP test can also tell how well the kidneys are working.

Doctors often order a BMP blood test if they’re looking for or keeping track of a condition, or seeing how a medicine or another treatment is working.

Top Things to Know

• The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a blood test that checks blood sugar, kidney health, and the balance of fluid and electrolytes.
• Kids might need to stop taking certain medicines or not eat or drink before the blood test.
• Your doctor can explain what it means if any levels are too high or too low.

What Does a Basic Metabolic Panel Check?

A BMP checks the blood levels of:

• Glucose, a kind of sugar that the body uses for energy.
• Certain electrolytes (substances that help keep the body’s fluid and chemical levels in balance), like:
  • Calcium, which plays an important role in how muscles and nerves work.
  • Sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide (or bicarbonate), which help keep cells in the body working as they should.
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, which are waste products that the kidneys filter out of the blood. The levels of BUN and creatinine show if the kidneys are working the right way.

How Are a Basic Metabolic Panel and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Different?

A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) tests blood for all the things in a BMP and also looks at certain proteins and liver health.

How Can I Help My Child Prepare for a Blood Test?

To help kids get ready for a blood test, find out if they need to fast (not eat or drink) or should stop taking medicines before the test. Explain what to expect during the test. If your child is nervous about it, work together on ways to stay calm. Deep breathing or even imagining being in a peaceful place that makes your child feel safe and calm can help.

What Do Basic Metabolic Panel Test Results Mean?

Lots of things, like food and medicine, can cause levels of substances measured in the BMP to rise and fall. Here are some other things that the results could mean:

• High glucose levels may point to diabetes.
• For electrolytes:
  • If calcium is high, there might be a liver, kidney, or thyroid problem.
  • Sodium levels can be too high or too low in a child who has dehydration (not enough water in the body) from vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes.
  • Potassium levels that are too high or too low can increase the risk of an abnormal heartbeat, or an arrhythmia. Low potassium levels are also linked to muscle weakness and cramps.
  • Chloride levels that aren’t in the “normal” range may be due to things like dehydration, heart disease, or kidney disease.
  • If carbon dioxide levels are too high or too low, there might be a problem with the kidneys or lungs.
• High levels of BUN and creatinine could mean the kidneys aren’t working well. It might also mean kids are dehydrated, have muscle damage, an infection, or a digestive problem.

More tests may be needed to find out what’s causing the rise or drop in levels of substances. Your doctor will explain what the results of the BMP test mean for your child. What’s “normal” varies based on things like age and gender.

If you have questions about the BMP test or other blood tests, talk to your doctor.