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Laboratory Abbreviations

Practice Consideration

Laboratory Abbreviations

Below are some of the abbreviations in laboratory values used in this case:

BMP

CBC

CMP

Lipid Profile

 

 

 


 

BMP - Basic Metabolic Panel

The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a group of 8 tests that measures several substances in your blood. It is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests.

The BMP gives your healthcare practitioner important information about the current status of your body’s metabolism (hence the name metabolic panel). 

The BMP includes the following tests:

  • Glucose– the primary energy source for the body's cells; a steady supply must be available for use, and a relatively stable level of glucose must be maintained in the blood.
  • Calcium– one of the most important minerals in the body; it is essential for the proper functioning of muscles, nerves, and the heart and is required in blood clotting and in the formation of bones.

Electrolytes—these are minerals found in body tissues and blood in the form of dissolved salts. Electrolytes help move nutrients into the body's cells and remove wastes out of cells. They help maintain a healthy water balance and help stabilize the body's acid/base (pH) level. The following 4 tests are commonly called electrolytes:

  • Sodium– vital to normal body function, including nerve and muscle function
  • Potassium– vital to cell metabolism and muscle function, helping to transmit messages between nerves and muscles
  • Bicarbonate (Total CO2)– helps to maintain the body's acid base balance (pH)
  • Chloride– helps to regulate the amount of fluid in the body and maintain the acid-base balance

Kidney Tests

  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) – waste product filtered out of the blood by the kidneys; as kidney function decreases, BUN level rises.
  • Creatinine – waste product produced in the muscles; it is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys so blood levels are a good indication of how well the kidneys are working.

 

 

 

 

CBC-Complete Blood Count

A CBC is typically performed using an automated instrument that measures various parameters, including cell counts and the physical features of some of the cells. A standard CBC includes:

Red blood cell (RBC) tests:

  •  Red blood cell (RBC) count is a count of the actual number of red blood cells in your blood sample.
  • Hemoglobin measures the total amount of the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood, which generally reflects the number of red blood cells in the blood.
  • Hematocrit measures the percentage of your total blood volume that consists of red blood cells.
  • Red blood cell indices provide information on the physical features of the RBCs:
    • Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your red blood cells.
    • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculated measurement of the average amount of hemoglobin inside your red blood cells.
    • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculated measurement of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside your red blood cells.
    • Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measurement of the variation in the size of your red blood cells.
  • The CBC may also include reticulocyte count, which is a measurement of the absolute count or percentage of newly released young red blood cells in your blood sample.

White blood cell (WBC) tests:

  •  White blood cell (WBC Count) is a count of the total number of white blood cells in your blood sample.
  •  White blood cell differential may be included as part of the CBC or may be done in follow up if the WBC count is high or low. The WBC differential identifies and counts the number of the five types of white blood cells present (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils). The individual count can be reported as an absolute count and/or as a percentage of total.

Platelet tests:

  • The platelet count is the number of platelets in your blood sample.
  • Mean platelet volume (MPV) may be reported with a CBC. It is a measurement of the average size of platelets.
  • Platelet distribution width (PDW) may also be reported with a CBC. It reflects how uniform platelets are in size.

 

 

 

CMP - Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

The comprehensive metabolic panel is a panel of 14 tests that is helpful for the doctor as it gives important information about the patient’s current state of health particularly the condition of the kidneys, liver, electrolytes, blood proteins, and blood glucose. A significant part of the CMP test include the following:

  1. Calcium – A mineral in the body needed for the muscles, nerves, and heart to function properly. Calcium aids in bone formation and blood clotting.
  2. Glucose – It serves as the source of energy of the body. It is important to have a steady supply of glucose and should be maintained at a healthy level.
  3. Proteins
    1. Albumin – It is a type of protein produced by the liver, which also serves as the primary protein in serum.
    2. Total protein – It measures the level of albumin and other proteins found in serum.
  4. Electrolytes
    1. Sodium – It is involved in various bodily functions specifically the functions of the nerves and muscles.
    2. Potassium – It is involved in cellular metabolism and also used in various functions of the muscles.
    3. Chloride – it regulates the amount of fluid in the body and at the same time helps maintain acid-base balance.
    4. Carbon dioxide – It regulates acid-base balance.
  5. Kidney test
    1. Creatinine – it is a waste product produced in the muscles. The kidneys are the ones that filter creatinine out of the blood. It is important to eliminate creatinine for the kidneys to function properly.
    2. BUN (blood urea nitrogen) – It is also a waste product that is filtered by the kidneys. A high BUN indicates possible kidney disease.
  6. Liver test
    1. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) – It is a type of enzyme found in various parts of the body, specifically in the liver and bone. If the level of alkaline phosphatase is high, it could indicate a possible liver or bone-related disease.
    2. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT/SGOT) – It is an enzyme present in the kidneys and liver. It is measured to detect the presence of liver disease and liver damage.
    3. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) – It is an enzyme found in the liver and heart and its level is checked to detect liver damage.
    4. Bilirubin – The liver breaks down and recycles aged red blood cells. As a result, it produces a waste product called bilirubin. 

 

 

Cholesterol/Lipid Profile

A lipid panel typically includes:

  • Total cholesterol—measures all the cholesterol in all the lipoprotein particles
  • High-density cholesteral (HDL-C)—measures the cholesterol in HDL particles; often called "good cholesterol" because HDL-C takes up excess cholesterol and carries it to the liver for removal.
  • Low density lipoprotein colesterol (LDL-C)—calculates or measures the cholesterol in LDL particles; often called "bad cholesterol" because it deposits excess cholesterol in walls of blood vessels, which can contribute to atherosclerosis. Usually, the amount of LDL-C is calculated using the results of total cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglycerides.
  • Triglycerides—measures all the triglycerides in all the lipoprotein particles; most is in the very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL).
Updated October 01, 2020
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