How to read a CMP blood test report

What it measures

Typical CMP markers include glucose, electrolytes, creatinine, eGFR estimates, and liver enzymes such as ALT and AST. Exact panels vary by laboratory.

Why people track it

CMP results are commonly used to organize metabolic and organ-function history in one place across visits.

How to read your report

Fasting status, medications, and hydration can influence some CMP values. Keep your original report handy when reviewing extracted numbers.

Important note

This is general information about laboratory markers. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or personalized medical advice. Discuss your results with your clinician.

What’s on the report

A CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) is a chemistry panel. The table usually lists the analyte, the result, the unit, and the lab’s reference range. Common lines include glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2 (bicarbonate), BUN, creatinine, eGFR, calcium, protein, albumin, bilirubin, ALP, AST, and ALT.

Line-by-line markers

• Glucose

  Also called: Blood sugar, Serum glucose, Plasma glucose

  Sugar in the blood at the time of the draw. Fasting vs non-fasting changes how people discuss it.

  Common units: mg/dL

• Sodium

  Also called: Na, Serum sodium

  An electrolyte that helps describe fluid balance. Usually read with the other electrolytes.

  Common units: mmol/L

• Potassium

  Also called: K, Serum potassium

  An electrolyte that can be affected by diet, medications, kidney context, and sample handling.

  Common units: mmol/L

• Chloride

  Also called: Cl, Serum chloride

  Often moves with sodium. Reviewed as part of the electrolyte group.

  Common units: mmol/L

• CO2 (bicarbonate)

  Also called: Carbon dioxide, Bicarbonate, HCO3, CO2 total, CO2, Total CO2

  Usually reported as total CO2 or bicarbonate — part of acid-base context, not a breathing test.

  Common units: mmol/L

• BUN

  Also called: Blood urea nitrogen, Urea nitrogen

  Blood urea nitrogen, a kidney-related chemistry line often paired with creatinine.

  Common units: mg/dL

• Creatinine

  Also called: Serum creatinine

  A waste product used with eGFR when people review kidney-related labs.

  Common units: mg/dL

• eGFR

  Also called: Estimated glomerular filtration rate

  An estimate of filtration calculated from creatinine and the lab’s equation — not a direct measurement.

  Common units: mL/min/1.73 m²

• Calcium

  Also called: Serum calcium, Total calcium

  Usually total calcium. Sometimes reviewed with albumin on the same panel.

  Common units: mg/dL

• Total protein

  Also called: Serum total protein

  A combined protein measurement. Often sits next to albumin.

  Common units: g/dL

• Albumin

  Also called: Serum albumin

  A major blood protein. Can affect how total calcium is discussed.

  Common units: g/dL

• Bilirubin

  Also called: Total bilirubin

  A pigment related to red-cell breakdown and liver handling.

  Common units: mg/dL

• Alkaline phosphatase

  Also called: ALP, Alk Phos

  An enzyme that can relate to liver or bone context depending on the rest of the panel.

  Common units: U/L

• AST

  Also called: Aspartate aminotransferase, SGOT

  An enzyme associated with liver and other tissues. Usually paired with ALT.

  Common units: U/L

• ALT

  Also called: Alanine aminotransferase, SGPT

  An enzyme commonly associated with the liver. Read with AST and the rest of the CMP.

  Common units: U/L

How units work

Glucose, creatinine, calcium, and bilirubin are often mg/dL on U.S. reports. Electrolytes are often mmol/L. Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) are usually U/L. eGFR is typically mL/min/1.73 m². SI units (mmol/L for glucose, µmol/L for creatinine) appear on some reports — do not mix unit systems when you compare visits.

What a flag means

Many reports mark a result with H, L, high, low, or an asterisk when it sits outside that laboratory’s printed reference interval. A flag is not a diagnosis. It means the value is outside the range on that report — discuss it with your clinician.

Why labs differ

A CMP from a hospital lab, Quest, or LabCorp can use different methods and printed intervals. eGFR equations and reporting formats also vary. Prefer the values and ranges on each source PDF.

How to compare over time

Fasting status, medications, hydration, and recent illness can move several CMP lines. When you save history, keep the collection date, fasting note if present, and the original file so you can ask clearer questions at the next visit.