Merck Manual

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Commonly Used Panels

By

Osvaldo Padilla

, MD, MPH, Texas Tech Health Science Center;


Jude Abadie

, PhD, Texas Tech University Health Science Center

Reviewed/Revised Dec 2021
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

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.

Table

Commonly Used Panels*

Test

CMP

RFP

BMP

ELEC

HFPA

LPP

AHP

Albumin

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

Urea nitrogen (BUN)

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.

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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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