Basic Metabolic Panel Test

This test measures glucose concentration in peritoneal dialysate fluid, the solution used during peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure. Glucose naturally diffuses from the dialysate into the bloodstream during treatment, and measuring residual glucose helps assess dialysate dwell time and treatment effectiveness. Changes in dialysate glucose levels can indicate peritoneal membrane changes or absorption problems affecting dialysis adequacy and treatment outcomes.

Potassium is a vital electrolyte that regulates heart rhythm, muscle function, and fluid balance. Blood potassium testing is one of the most commonly ordered laboratory tests, included in both the Basic and Comprehensive Metabolic Panels. Hypokalemia (low potassium) can result from diuretic use, vomiting, or diarrhea and may cause muscle weakness, cramps, and dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. Hyperkalemia (high potassium) may result from kidney disease, certain medications (ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics), or tissue damage. Both extremes require prompt clinical intervention due to life-threatening cardiac risks.

Magnesium is a mineral essential for muscle function, energy production, and nerve signaling. A 24-hour urine magnesium test measures how much magnesium your body excretes, helping assess magnesium status and kidney function. Low urinary magnesium may indicate deficiency or malabsorption, while high levels could suggest excessive losses or dietary overload. This test is useful for evaluating muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and metabolic concerns.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) in blood, measured as bicarbonate, is crucial for acid-base balance and respiration. This test assesses how well your lungs remove CO2 and how well your kidneys regulate acid balance. Elevated CO2 suggests respiratory problems or metabolic alkalosis, while low CO2 may indicate hyperventilation or metabolic acidosis. Results help diagnose breathing disorders, kidney disease, and serious metabolic imbalances affecting multiple organ systems.

Albumin is a protein produced by the liver and normally found in very small amounts in body fluids like urine. Microalbumin testing detects trace levels of albumin in urine that aren't visible on standard tests. The presence of albumin in urine—called albuminuria—is an early warning sign of kidney damage. This can result from diabetes, high blood pressure, or other kidney disease. Regular albumin screening helps detect kidney problems before significant damage occurs, allowing for early intervention and management to slow or prevent progression.

Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscle metabolism and filtered by the kidneys into urine. This test measures creatinine in an 8-hour urine collection and reflects kidney filtration function. Creatinine levels help assess kidney health and are often used to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which indicates how well your kidneys filter waste. Low creatinine output may suggest reduced muscle mass or kidney disease, while the ratio of protein to creatinine helps assess kidney protein loss. This test is frequently ordered in patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or known kidney disease.

Calcium is an essential mineral critical for bone health, muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting. This test measures calcium levels in serum or plasma, reflecting overall calcium balance in the body. About 99% of calcium is stored in bones, while the remaining 1% circulates in the blood and is tightly regulated. Abnormal serum calcium may indicate parathyroid disorders, vitamin D deficiency, kidney disease, or certain malignancies. Both hypocalcemia (low calcium) and hypercalcemia (high calcium) can cause serious symptoms including muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmias, and neurological changes.

This test measures blood glucose at 4 PM, capturing your blood sugar level in the afternoon hours rather than fasting. It helps assess how your body is managing glucose throughout the day and identifies post-meal blood sugar patterns. Elevated afternoon glucose can indicate poor glucose control, insulin resistance, or undiagnosed diabetes. This measurement is particularly useful for monitoring metabolic health in individuals with irregular eating patterns or those already diagnosed with blood sugar disorders.

Glucose measured at 5 PM captures blood sugar levels in the late afternoon, often used to assess post-lunch or afternoon metabolism patterns. This timed glucose test helps evaluate glucose control throughout the day and may identify afternoon energy dips. Results are useful when screening for metabolic disorders or monitoring diabetes management at specific times.

This glucose test measures blood sugar levels before taking a medication dose, typically used in diabetes management to assess how well glucose control is maintained throughout the day. Pre-dose glucose readings help clinicians evaluate whether current medication doses are effective or need adjustment. These measurements are particularly valuable for patients on insulin or other glucose-lowering medications, as they reveal patterns in blood sugar levels and guide treatment modifications to achieve optimal metabolic control.

This test identifies specific mutations in the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene from blood or tissue samples. EGFR mutations are commonly found in certain lung cancers and can determine which targeted therapies will be most effective. Different mutations respond differently to specific medications called EGFR inhibitors. Testing for EGFR mutations is crucial for cancer patients to guide treatment selection, predict drug response, and optimize outcomes. This genetic information helps oncologists personalize cancer treatment plans.

This test measures blood glucose after a fasting period, typically 8-12 hours without food or drink. Fasting glucose is a fundamental screening tool for metabolic disorders including diabetes and prediabetes. Normal fasting glucose ranges from 70-100 mg/dL; levels 100-125 mg/dL suggest prediabetes, and values above 126 mg/dL indicate diabetes. Fasting glucose is less affected by recent meals than non-fasting measurements, providing a stable baseline for assessing long-term glucose control and metabolic health.

This test measures creatinine clearance during dialysis by comparing creatinine levels in dialysis fluid versus blood. It assesses how effectively dialysis is removing uremic toxins—a key measure of dialysis adequacy. Adequate creatinine clearance ensures proper removal of metabolic waste products that impaired kidneys cannot eliminate. This test is essential for dialysis patients to prevent toxin accumulation and maintain health.

This comprehensive panel measures eight essential blood components: sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, and ionized calcium. These tests assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, hydration status, and blood sugar control. The panel provides a broad snapshot of metabolic health and is commonly ordered during routine physicals, before surgery, or when evaluating symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or abnormal blood pressure. Results help identify electrolyte imbalances, kidney dysfunction, and metabolic disorders.

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a gene that, when mutated, can drive certain lung cancers and other malignancies. This test analyzes blood or tissue samples for specific EGFR mutations. Detecting these mutations is critical for patients with non-small cell lung cancer because it determines eligibility for targeted therapy drugs (like erlotinib or gefitinib) that specifically block the mutated EGFR protein. These targeted treatments are often more effective and better tolerated than traditional chemotherapy. This is a molecular diagnostic test that informs personalized cancer treatment strategies.

The microalbumin panel measures small amounts of albumin (a protein) in your urine collected over 24 hours. Normally, healthy kidneys don't leak significant protein into urine. Microalbuminuria—the presence of small amounts of albumin—is an early sign of kidney damage, often related to diabetes or high blood pressure. This test is crucial for early detection of kidney disease before major damage occurs. Regular monitoring helps guide treatment decisions and slow disease progression.

This panel measures kidney function by comparing creatinine levels in your blood and urine, typically collected over 24 hours. Creatinine is a waste product your muscles produce that healthy kidneys filter into urine. The test calculates glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which indicates how well your kidneys are clearing waste. Low clearance or elevated creatinine suggests kidney disease. This comprehensive panel helps detect early-stage kidney dysfunction before symptoms develop and monitors kidney health in people with diabetes, hypertension, or other risk factors.

This test measures blood glucose 1 hour after consuming 50 grams of glucose, a simplified screening test for gestational diabetes and glucose intolerance. Unlike the standard glucose tolerance test, this does not require fasting and is more convenient for screening. Elevated glucose after the glucose challenge suggests impaired glucose handling and increased diabetes risk. This test is commonly performed during pregnancy (typically between 24-28 weeks) to screen for gestational diabetes, which affects maternal and fetal health. Abnormal results warrant a full diagnostic glucose tolerance test.

This test measures the ratio of albumin to creatinine in urine using a test strip. Albumin is a blood protein that normally shouldn't appear in urine; its presence suggests kidney damage or disease. By comparing it to creatinine (a waste product filtered by kidneys), this test corrects for variations in urine concentration. Even small amounts of albumin in urine (microalbuminuria) can be an early sign of kidney disease from diabetes or high blood pressure, prompting early intervention.

This test measures microalbumin (tiny amounts of albumin protein) and creatinine in a 24-hour urine collection to assess kidney function. Microalbumin in urine (microalbuminuria) is an early sign of kidney damage, often appearing before significant kidney disease develops. This test is particularly valuable for detecting early diabetic kidney disease and monitoring kidney function in patients with diabetes or hypertension, allowing intervention before serious damage occurs.

This test measures how effectively your kidneys filter waste by calculating creatinine clearance from a 24-hour urine sample and blood test, then adjusting for your body size. Creatinine is a waste product from muscle metabolism that healthy kidneys remove. This calculation (also called GFR estimation) shows kidney function more accurately than blood creatinine alone. Low clearance rates suggest declining kidney function, which requires monitoring and intervention.

GFR measures how efficiently your kidneys filter waste from blood, expressed as milliliters of filtrate per minute. It's calculated using creatinine levels adjusted for age, sex, and body size. GFR is the most accurate indicator of kidney function, with different stages indicating mild, moderate, or severe kidney disease. Even small declines in GFR can signal progressive kidney disease requiring monitoring and lifestyle modifications to slow progression.