A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a group of 14 tests that give a broad snapshot of your metabolism: blood sugar (glucose), kidney function (BUN, creatinine), liver function (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin), proteins (albumin, total protein), and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, CO2, chloride, calcium).
The CMP differs from the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP), which has 8 tests and leaves out the liver enzymes and proteins. Your doctor orders a CMP at annual physicals, to monitor medications, to follow diabetes, or to check kidney and liver health.
CMP reference ranges (US standard)
These ranges are aligned with Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. Your own report prints the exact range your lab used — always defer to that range, since methods differ slightly between labs.
| Parameter | Normal Range | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose (fasting) | 70–99 mg/dL | Blood sugar; 100–125 = prediabetes |
| BUN | 7–20 mg/dL | Kidney waste product (urea) |
| Creatinine | Men 0.7–1.3 · Women 0.5–1.1 mg/dL | Kidney filtration marker |
| Sodium (Na) | 136–145 mEq/L | Fluid balance electrolyte |
| Potassium (K) | 3.5–5.0 mEq/L | Heart & muscle electrolyte |
| CO2 (bicarbonate) | 23–29 mEq/L | Acid-base balance |
| Calcium | 8.5–10.2 mg/dL | Bone & nerve mineral |
| ALT | 7–56 U/L | Liver enzyme |
| AST | 10–40 U/L | Liver & muscle enzyme |
| Albumin | 3.5–5.0 g/dL | Main blood protein |
The most important CMP results to understand
Glucose (fasting blood sugar)
A fasting glucose of 70–99 mg/dL is normal, 100–125 mg/dL is prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher on two tests is diabetes. With 96 million Americans estimated to have prediabetes, a result in the low 100s is extremely common — it's a signal to act, not a diagnosis to panic over. Use our A1c calculator to see how it relates to your average blood sugar.
Creatinine and kidney function
Creatinine reflects how well your kidneys filter waste. It's converted into an eGFR, which stages kidney health. Long-term NSAID use (Advil, Motrin) is a major and often-overlooked cause of kidney strain in the US. Try our eGFR calculator.
Liver enzymes (ALT and AST)
"Elevated liver enzymes" is one of the highest-volume lab searches in the US. The most common cause today is fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which now affects roughly 1 in 4 American adults. Mildly elevated ALT often improves with weight loss and reduced alcohol.