CMP 15 values Updated Apr 29, 2026

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a 14-test panel that covers kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, blood sugar, and protein status in a single draw. It's one of the most commonly ordered blood tests in routine medicine because it touches so many body systems at once. Each value answers a different question, and CMP results are usually read by component group (kidney values together, liver values together, electrolytes together) rather than as a single overall pattern. BloodSight reads your CMP from PDF or portal exports and charts every value across visits.

Read the CMP guide

What a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Covers

A CMP groups fourteen separate measurements into one panel because clinicians use them as a default snapshot of metabolic and organ-system function. The values are typically read by group: the kidney group together, the liver group together, the electrolyte group together. A single out-of-range CMP value can have very different meaning depending on which system it sits in — a low albumin and a low sodium describe completely different processes.

Why CMP Shows Up on Most Lab Orders

CMP is among the most commonly ordered blood tests because it covers four organ systems at once. It is part of routine annual checkups, hospital admission orders, pre-operative workups, and ongoing monitoring of kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, and electrolyte status. Because it is used so broadly, CMP results often serve as the baseline that other lab orders are compared against.

What's Inside a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

A standard CMP reports fourteen values across four groups. Kidney values: creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and (calculated) eGFR. Liver values: ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, albumin, and total protein. Electrolytes: sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2/bicarbonate, and calcium. Glucose is also included. Some labs also report the BUN/creatinine ratio, the albumin/globulin ratio, and globulin (calculated as total protein minus albumin). The smaller Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) drops the liver values; the CMP keeps everything.

Reading a CMP by Body System

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel covers four different body systems in a single panel. Reading the CMP by system group — rather than line-by-line — makes the report much faster to interpret because each group answers a different question about metabolic state.

  1. 1

    Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, CO2)

    Sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) describe fluid and acid-base balance. Potassium (K) is the most commonly flagged electrolyte and shifts with hydration, kidney function, and several common medications. CO2 (bicarbonate) describes acid-base status. The four electrolytes are read together — patterns across them matter more than any single value.

  2. 2

    Kidney values (creatinine, BUN, eGFR)

    Creatinine and BUN describe kidney filtration. eGFR is calculated from creatinine and is the most commonly tracked kidney metric across visits. The BUN/creatinine ratio gives additional context — high ratio with high BUN often points toward dehydration; low ratio toward different patterns.

  3. 3

    Liver values (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin)

    ALT and AST are liver enzymes that rise when liver cells are stressed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reflects bile flow and bone activity. Bilirubin describes how the liver is processing red-cell breakdown products. The four values are read together — different patterns describe different liver processes.

  4. 4

    Proteins (albumin, total protein)

    Albumin is the most abundant blood protein and reflects nutrition and chronic state. Total protein is albumin plus globulins. Their ratio (albumin/globulin) gives additional context — low albumin and low total protein together describe a different process than low albumin with normal total protein.

  5. 5

    Glucose stands on its own

    Glucose is the metabolic snapshot at the moment of the draw. Fasting glucose is most informative; non-fasting glucose is harder to interpret on its own. For chronic glucose status, A1c (not on the standard CMP) is more informative than a single fasting glucose.

Read the full CMP guide

CMP Reference Ranges by Component

A CMP groups kidney values, liver values, electrolytes, and glucose into one panel — so reference ranges are organised by the system each value reports on. Adult ranges below come from the cutoffs printed on most US lab reports.

Test Normal range (Adult) Unit Flagged when
Glucose 70–99 mg/dL < 70 or > 99
Blood Urea Nitrogen BUN 7–20 mg/dL < 7 or > 20
Creatinine 0.74–1.35 mg/dL < 0.74 or > 1.35
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate eGFR 90–120 mL/min/1.73 m² < 90 or > 120
Sodium Na 135–145 mmol/L < 135 or > 145
Potassium K 3.5–5 mmol/L < 3.5 or > 5
Chloride Cl 98–106 mmol/L < 98 or > 106
Calcium Ca 8.6–10.2 mg/dL < 8.6 or > 10.2
Carbon Dioxide CO2 22–30 mmol/L < 22 or > 30
Total Protein 6–8.3 g/dL < 6 or > 8.3
Albumin 3.5–5 g/dL < 3.5 or > 5
Magnesium Mg 1.7–2.2 mg/dL < 1.7 or > 2.2
Phosphorus P 2.5–4.5 mg/dL < 2.5 or > 4.5
Globulin 2–3.4 g/dL < 2 or > 3.4
Anion Gap 8–16 mmol/L < 8 or > 16

What Shifts CMP Values

CMP values respond to hydration, kidney function, liver workload, glucose intake, and several common medications. Because the panel covers multiple body systems, a single out-of-range CMP result can have very different drivers depending on which component moved.

Common factors for high values

  • Recent food intake — eating before the draw can raise circulating glucose and increase the Glucose test result. (affects Glucose)
  • Dehydration — lower plasma volume can concentrate the measured Glucose. (affects Glucose)
  • Stress response — temporary hormone shifts can raise blood sugar and affect high Glucose. (affects Glucose)

Common factors for low values

  • Fasting or missed meals — lower intake before the draw can reduce measured glucose and lead to low Glucose. (affects Glucose)
  • Long exercise session — active muscle use can temporarily lower circulating glucose. (affects Glucose)
  • Alcohol intake — alcohol can affect liver glucose release and lower the Glucose test result. (affects Glucose)

All CMP Values

Glucose

Glucose is the amount of glucose, or blood sugar, measured in a blood sample. On a lab report, Glucose helps show how much sugar is circulating in the blood at the time of the test. In a metabolic panel, the Glucose result is often reviewed alongside other chemistry markers to give a broader snapshot of blood chemistry.

Adult Male mg/dL
70
99

Blood Urea Nitrogen

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is a lab value that measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood, a waste product made from protein breakdown. It is reported as BUN on a blood test or Blood Urea Nitrogen on a lab report and helps describe how blood chemistry is changing over time.

Adult Male mg/dL
7
20

Creatinine

Creatinine is a waste product measured in blood and used as part of a metabolic panel. It is commonly shown on a blood test as Creatinine and helps describe how the body is handling muscle breakdown products and fluid balance. The Creatinine test is often read with other lab values to understand overall blood chemistry.

Adult Male mg/dL
0.74
1.35

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

eGFR

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is a calculated lab value that estimates how well the kidneys filter blood. On a lab report, eGFR is usually reported from creatinine, age, sex, and sometimes race-adjusted equations, and it helps show overall filtering capacity. eGFR is commonly included on a metabolic panel and is often reviewed with creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Adult Male mL/min/1.73 m²
90
120

Sodium

Na

Sodium (Na) is a lab value that measures the amount of sodium in blood, usually reported in mmol/L. Sodium on a blood test helps show how concentrated the blood sample is and how water balance is reflected in the result. On a metabolic panel, Na is read alongside other chemistry markers to describe the overall composition of the blood sample.

Adult Male mmol/L
135
145

Potassium

K

Potassium (K) is a blood electrolyte measured on a lab report to show how much K is circulating in the bloodstream. It is commonly included in a metabolic panel and helps describe fluid balance, cell function, and the overall chemical makeup of blood. High or low K values on a blood test are read alongside other markers such as sodium and creatinine.

Adult Male mmol/L
3.5
5

Chloride

Cl

Chloride (Cl) is a blood chemistry value that measures the amount of chloride, a major charged mineral in the fluid outside cells. On a lab report, Cl helps describe fluid balance and how the body keeps electrolytes in a steady range. It is commonly included in a Metabolic Panel and reported in mmol/L.

Adult Male mmol/L
98
106

Calcium

Ca

Calcium (Ca) is a blood chemistry value reported on a metabolic panel that shows how much calcium is present in the sample. Calcium on a lab report is read as part of the body’s overall mineral and fluid balance, and the Ca result is often considered alongside albumin and other metabolic markers. It helps describe whether the Calcium normal range is being maintained or whether the Calcium test result is higher or lower than expected.

Adult Male mg/dL
8.6
10.2

Carbon Dioxide

CO2

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a blood test value that measures the total amount of carbon dioxide in serum or plasma, mostly as bicarbonate. It is commonly included in a metabolic panel and helps describe blood chemistry balance on a CO2 on a blood test. The Carbon Dioxide result is often read alongside other metabolic panel markers to understand overall fluid and acid-base patterns.

Adult Male mmol/L
22
30

Total Protein

Total Protein is a lab value that measures the overall amount of protein in blood. Total Protein on a lab report helps summarize the protein balance of the fluid part of blood and is often reviewed as part of a metabolic panel. Changes in Total Protein can reflect shifts in hydration, protein levels in the bloodstream, or other factors that influence blood composition.

Adult Male g/dL
6
8.3

Albumin

Albumin is a blood protein measured on a lab report to show how much of this major transport protein is present in the blood. In a Metabolic Panel, Albumin helps describe blood composition, protein balance, and fluid status. Albumin test results are often reviewed with other markers to understand whether the value is within the Albumin normal range or shifted high or low.

Adult Male g/dL
3.5
5

Magnesium

Mg

Magnesium (Mg) is a mineral measured on a blood test as part of some metabolic panels. It helps describe the balance of Mg in blood and how it compares with the Magnesium normal range on a lab report. This lab value is read with other markers to understand the overall chemistry pattern, not by itself.

Adult Male mg/dL
1.7
2.2

Phosphorus

P

Phosphorus (P) is a mineral measured in blood to show how much phosphorus is circulating in the body. On a lab report, it is often used in a metabolic panel to help describe mineral balance and how the body is handling intake, release, and removal of P.

Adult Male mg/dL
2.5
4.5

Globulin

Globulin is the non-albumin protein fraction measured on a blood test and shown on a lab report. The globulin value on a lab report describes the blood protein balance and is often reviewed together with albumin and the albumin/globulin ratio (A/G ratio). A globulin test result is interpreted against the globulin normal range printed by the laboratory, and results can shift with hydration, sample handling, and lab method. Total globulin on a blood test is usually reported in g/dL.

Adult Male g/dL
2
3.4

Anion Gap

Anion Gap is a calculated value from a metabolic panel that reflects the balance between measured positively and negatively charged substances in blood. On an Anion Gap on a lab report or Anion Gap on a blood test, it helps summarize how the basic chemistry results fit together. The Anion Gap test is commonly reported in mmol/L and is read with other metabolic panel values for context.

Adult Male mmol/L
8
16

Compare values in this panel

How values in this panel relate to each other and what their differences mean.

Preparing for a CMP

CMPs are typically drawn fasting because the glucose component is most informative when fasting. Fasting requirements are usually 8–12 hours of nothing but water; some lab orders accept non-fasting glucose with a note. Hydration status affects several CMP values (BUN, creatinine, sodium), so being normally hydrated for the draw — neither over- nor under-watered — is part of useful preparation. The lab requisition specifies whether fasting is required for your specific order.

Quick CMP Answers

What does a CMP measure?
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel measures fourteen values across four body systems: kidney function (creatinine, BUN, eGFR), liver function (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, total protein), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, calcium), and glucose. The panel is read by component group rather than as a single overall pattern, and each group answers a different question about metabolic state.
How do I read a CMP?
A common reading approach groups CMP values by what they describe. Look at electrolytes first (sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2 — describes acid-base and fluid balance). Then kidney values (creatinine, BUN, eGFR — describes kidney filtration). Then liver values (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin — describes liver workload and bile flow). Then proteins (albumin, total protein — describes nutrition and chronic state). Glucose stands on its own as the metabolic snapshot.
What's the difference between CMP and BMP?
A BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel) is the smaller version — it includes electrolytes, kidney values, and glucose, but not the liver values or proteins. A CMP adds ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and total protein on top of everything in the BMP. Both are used as routine snapshots, with CMP chosen when liver function is part of what is being assessed.
What does an abnormal CMP result mean?
An abnormal CMP value is interpreted differently depending on which component is out of range. A low albumin describes a different process than a high creatinine, and a low potassium describes something else entirely. The pattern across the whole panel matters — a single mildly out-of-range value usually means less than several values shifting in a coherent direction. Each component has its own biomarker page in BloodSight describing what's commonly associated with high or low results for that specific value.
What causes abnormal CMP values?
Each CMP value has its own set of common factors. Hydration shifts BUN, creatinine, and sodium. Recent meals shift glucose. Medications drive a long list of CMP changes — diuretics shift potassium and sodium, statins can shift liver values, NSAIDs and certain antibiotics shift kidney values. Each component biomarker page lists the specific factors most often associated with that individual value.
Do I need to fast for a CMP?
Most CMP orders include glucose, which is most informative when drawn fasting — typically 8–12 hours of nothing but water. Some lab orders accept non-fasting glucose, in which case the report notes that. The other CMP values aren't strongly affected by fasting. The lab requisition or portal order specifies whether fasting is required for your specific draw.
What are normal CMP reference ranges?
CMP reference ranges describe what's statistically common in the general adult population for each individual value. Each laboratory prints its own cutoffs — sodium 135–145 mmol/L is typical; creatinine cutoffs vary by sex; ALT cutoffs vary widely between labs. BloodSight shows the laboratory's printed reference range next to each CMP value and flags any that fall outside it.
How long do CMP results take?
Most laboratories return CMP results within 1–2 business days. Patient portals usually post values first; the full PDF often follows shortly after. In hospital settings, CMP can be returned within hours.
How often is a CMP ordered?
Frequency depends on what's being followed. Routine annual CMPs are common as part of yearly checkups; CMPs ordered to track a specific condition (kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte issues, blood sugar) may be repeated every few months or more often. The ordering provider determines cadence.
How does BloodSight track CMP results over time?
BloodSight charts every CMP value across all your uploaded panels in one timeline, grouped by component. You see kidney values, liver values, electrolytes, and glucose tracked side by side across years rather than scattered across individual reports — which makes drift in any specific value much easier to spot than flipping through PDFs.

What Else Often Sits Next to a CMP

A comprehensive metabolic panel is one of the broadest routine workups. The panels below most often share the same draw, layering blood-cell counts, cholesterol, and a closer look at kidney function onto the CMP picture.

CBC

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
LIP

Lipid Panel
KID

Kidney Function Panel

Disclaimer

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare professional.