Basic Metabolic Panel
The Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) measures a group of analytes in a blood sample, covering electrolyte balance, glucose, kidney status, and acid-base balance. It is often ordered as part of a routine health examination.
About this panel
The BMP reports a group of analytes: sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide (bicarbonate), glucose, calcium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine, along with a calculated eGFR and BUN/creatinine ratio. Together they reflect electrolyte balance, glucose levels, kidney status, and acid-base balance.
The panel is commonly ordered as part of a routine health examination or physical, and it is also used during hospital or emergency-room admission or to monitor metabolism and vital signs in people managing conditions such as hypertension.
Who might consider this panel?
- Often doing so as part of a general checkup
- Ongoing monitoring of a condition a clinician is already tracking
- Because it reports several markers together, results are usually read as a pattern rather than any single value on its own.
What's included
10 analytes, ordered together in a single draw.
- BUN/CREATININE RATIO
- CALCIUM
- CARBON DIOXIDE
- CHLORIDE
- CREATININE
- EGFR
- GLUCOSE
- POTASSIUM
- SODIUM
- UREA NITROGEN (BUN)
Test details
| Quest code | 10165 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | See individual tests |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Patient preparation | Fast before your blood draw if you can; water is fine. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The panel reports sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, calcium, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, and the BUN/creatinine ratio. Quest also lists the panel as Metabolic Panels or BMP.
How it's often used alongside other tests
Results from the BMP are usually evaluated together for patterns rather than singly, since a single abnormal result may point to something different than several abnormal results together. It is frequently ordered alongside other routine bloodwork as part of a broader health picture.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Basic Metabolic Panel measure?
It measures a group of analytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, calcium, BUN, and creatinine — plus a calculated eGFR and BUN/creatinine ratio, reflecting electrolyte balance, glucose, kidney status, and acid-base balance.
How is the sample collected?
The panel uses a 1 mL serum sample collected through a routine blood draw.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Fast before your blood draw if you can; water is fine. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.
Is the BMP known by other names?
Yes. Quest also lists it as Metabolic Panels or BMP, which refer to the same test.
Can I get the Basic Metabolic Panel test without a doctor's visit or insurance?
Yes. The $20 cash price includes an independent physician's order, so no referral is needed, and insurance is never involved.