A CMP is typically done as part of your yearly checkup. It can also be ordered if you are ill and hospitalized.
Your healthcare provider may also order a comprehensive metabolic panel based on your risk factors for certain conditions, or to monitor them if you’re already diagnosed, such as:
In addition to determining the health of your liver and kidneys, the CMP also checks the status of your blood sugar and protein levels, as well as your body's electrolytes and fluid balance.
The CMP doesn't necessarily diagnose a single condition. Given the breadth of the test, it often gives your healthcare provider a starting point to order more targeted tests to diagnose a specific condition.
The 14 tests that make up a comprehensive metabolic panel are as follows. These measures are useful to review together, rather than alone, as patterns of results can be more telling—which is why they are tested at the same time.
