Certain groups of tests (panels) are commonly used to evaluate general health status or to help diagnose a suspected disorder. These panels are usually standardized. For example, the basic metabolic panel (BMP) typically contains 8 tests, which are used to evaluate electrolytes, glucose, calcium, and renal function.
Commonly Used Panels*
Test | CMP | RFP | BMP | ELEC | HFPA | LPP | AHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
Alkaline phosphatase | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Aminotransferase, alanine (ALT, formerly SGPT) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Aminotransferase, aspartate (AST, formerly SGOT) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Bilirubin, direct | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Bilirubin, total | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Calcium | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Carbon dioxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Chloride | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Cholesterol, total | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Cholesterol, HDL | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Creatinine | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Glucose, fasting | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Hepatitis A, IgM antibody | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Hepatitis B core, IgM antibody | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Hepatitis B surface antigen | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Hepatitis C antibody | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Phosphorus | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Potassium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Protein, total | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Sodium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Triglycerides* | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
*Includes calculations of risk ratios and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). | |||||||
AHP = acute hepatitis panel; BMP = basic metabolic panel; CMP = comprehensive metabolic panel; ELEC = electrolyte panel; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; HFPA = hepatic function panel; LPP = lipid panel; RFP = renal function panel; SGOT = serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; SGPT = serum glutamatic-pyruvic transaminase. See also American Medical Association Medicare Test Panels. | |||||||
