Test Overview of Metabolic Chemistry Panel
Primary screening test given to new patients and annually thereafter.
Test Indications of Metabolic Chemistry Panel
- New patient.
- Annual physical.
- Preoperative.
Sample Collection for Metabolic Chemistry Panel
- Patient should not eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 12 hours prior to blood sample collection.
- Sample to lab consists of one refrigerated unopened spun barrier tube.
- Spin sample within 45 minutes of collection; be sure barrier forms a complete separation.
Your doctor or lab may have different instructions that supersede the above.
CPT CODES for Metabolic Chemistry Panel
| CPT-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 80053 | ||
| 82465 | ||
| 82977 | ||
| 83615 | ||
| 84100 | ||
| 84478 | ||
| 84550 | ||
| 83718 | HDL |
Labs Performing Metabolic Chemistry Panel Test
| Name of Lab | Lab Code | Estimated Cost | Processing Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sonora Quest |
31033 | 1 day | ||
| Sonora Quest |
35811 | 1 day | Also includes Complete Blood Count. Also need 5 mL lavender top tube. | |
| Sonora Quest |
31433 | 1 day | Also includes HDL-cholesterol |
Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.
Theory of Metabolic Chemistry Panel
Glucose
Urea Nitrogen, Blood (BUN)
Urea is mostly produced in the liver from protein catabolism, and mostly excreted by the kidney. The blood level of urea reflects the balance between production and elimination.
Elevated BUN is a sensitive indicator of kidney insufficiency, but may be confounded by increased or decreased protein consumption, digestion, and absorption. [Weatherby2010, pp 213-220]
Creatinine
[Weatherby2010, pp 221-224]
eGFRcr CKD-EPI
Estimated glomerular filtrate rate calculated using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation.
BUN/Creatinine Ratio
[Weatherby2010, pp 225-227]
Sodium
[Weatherby2010, pp 242-247]
Potassium
[Weatherby2010, pp 237-241]
Chloride
[Weatherby2010, pp 248-252]
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
[Weatherby2010, pp 253-258]
Anion Gap
Value >= 14 mE/L suggests metabolic acidosis.
[Weatherby2010, pp 259-262]
Protein, Total
[Weatherby2010, pp 263-267]
Albumin
[Weatherby2010, pp 268-274]
Globulin, Total
[Weatherby2010, pp 275-279]
Albumin/Globulin Ratio
[Weatherby2010, pp 280-282]
Calcium
[Weatherby2010, pp 283-288]
Alkaline Phosphatase
[Weatherby2010, pp 300-306]
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT)
[Weatherby2010, pp 315-320]
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, SGOT)
[Weatherby2010, pp 310-314]
Bilirubin, Total
High normal or high levels of bilirubin suggests Gilbert's Syndrome.
Even a high-normal bilirubin level points to slow detox. [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 334-339]
Other Related Tests
Bilirubin, Direct (Conjugated)
[Weatherby2010, pp 340-342]
Bilirubin, Indirect (Unconjugated)
[Weatherby2010, pp 343-344]
Uric Acid
[Weatherby2010, pp 228-236]
Osmolality (calculated)
Serum Phosphorus
[Weatherby2010, pp 289-294]
Serum Magnesium
[Weatherby2010, pp 295-299]
Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 306-309]
GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase)
This enzyme is induced in response to a toxic load - such as excessive alcohol consumption
or certain prescription medication [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 321-325]
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)
This enzyme is necessary to clear lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism.
According to [Myhill2018, pg 92], elevated LDH may suggest
poor mitochondrial function.
[Weatherby2010, pp 326-330]
LDH Isozymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 331-333]
[Weatherby2010, pp 263-267]
Albumin
[Weatherby2010, pp 268-274]
Globulin, Total
[Weatherby2010, pp 275-279]
Albumin/Globulin Ratio
[Weatherby2010, pp 280-282]
Calcium
[Weatherby2010, pp 283-288]
Alkaline Phosphatase
[Weatherby2010, pp 300-306]
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT)
[Weatherby2010, pp 315-320]
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, SGOT)
[Weatherby2010, pp 310-314]
Bilirubin, Total
High normal or high levels of bilirubin suggests Gilbert's Syndrome. Even a high-normal bilirubin level points to slow detox. [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 334-339]
Other Related Tests
Bilirubin, Direct (Conjugated)
[Weatherby2010, pp 340-342]
Bilirubin, Indirect (Unconjugated)
[Weatherby2010, pp 343-344]
Uric Acid
[Weatherby2010, pp 228-236]
Osmolality (calculated)
Serum Phosphorus
[Weatherby2010, pp 289-294]
Serum Magnesium
[Weatherby2010, pp 295-299]
Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 306-309]
GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase)
This enzyme is induced in response to a toxic load - such as excessive alcohol consumption
or certain prescription medication [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 321-325]
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)
This enzyme is necessary to clear lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism.
According to [Myhill2018, pg 92], elevated LDH may suggest
poor mitochondrial function.
[Weatherby2010, pp 326-330]
LDH Isozymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 331-333]
[Weatherby2010, pp 289-294]
[Weatherby2010, pp 295-299]
Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 306-309]
GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase)
This enzyme is induced in response to a toxic load - such as excessive alcohol consumption
or certain prescription medication [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 321-325]
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)
This enzyme is necessary to clear lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism.
According to [Myhill2018, pg 92], elevated LDH may suggest
poor mitochondrial function.
[Weatherby2010, pp 326-330]
LDH Isozymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 331-333]
[Weatherby2010, pp 306-309]
This enzyme is induced in response to a toxic load - such as excessive alcohol consumption or certain prescription medication [Myhill2018, pg 92].
[Weatherby2010, pp 321-325]
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)
This enzyme is necessary to clear lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism.
According to [Myhill2018, pg 92], elevated LDH may suggest
poor mitochondrial function.
[Weatherby2010, pp 326-330]
LDH Isozymes
[Weatherby2010, pp 331-333]
This enzyme is necessary to clear lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism. According to [Myhill2018, pg 92], elevated LDH may suggest poor mitochondrial function.
[Weatherby2010, pp 326-330]
[Weatherby2010, pp 331-333]
References regarding Metabolic Chemistry Panel
[Myhill2018] Sarah Myhill.
Sustainable Medicine: Whistle-Blowing on 21st-Century Medical Practice.
White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing (2018).
[Weatherby2010] Dicken Weatherby.
Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis From a Functional Perspective:
SPECIAL SEMINAR EDITION.
Bear Mountain Publishing (2010).
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:
[FMU] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Biochemistry.