What is a “basic blood panel”?
When a doctor says “let’s run a basic panel,” they almost always mean one of two standard bundles of blood tests: the basic metabolic panel (BMP) or the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). Here is what each one measures, in plain English, and what they cost.
The short version
- BMP: 8 measurements. Blood sugar, minerals, and two kidney numbers.
- CMP: the same 8, plus 6 more that check your liver and blood proteins. 14 in all.
- Fasting: often yes, because both include glucose. Follow your order.
- Medicare: covers either one when your doctor orders it for a medical reason, and you pay $0. Medicare pays the lab $8.46 for a BMP and $10.56 for a CMP.
The basic metabolic panel (BMP): 8 tests
The BMP looks at your blood sugar, your fluid and mineral balance, and how well your kidneys are working. Doctors order it at checkups, when you have general symptoms like fatigue or confusion, in the emergency room, and to keep an eye on conditions such as high blood pressure or kidney disease.
| Measurement | What it tells your doctor |
|---|---|
| Glucose | Blood sugar, your body’s main energy source |
| Calcium | Needed by nerves, muscles, and the heart, and for blood clotting |
| Sodium | An electrolyte. Helps control fluid balance |
| Potassium | An electrolyte. Important for the heart and muscles |
| Chloride | An electrolyte. Works with sodium |
| Carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) | An electrolyte. Shows the acid–base balance of your blood |
| BUN (blood urea nitrogen) | A waste product your kidneys remove |
| Creatinine | Another waste product your kidneys remove. The main kidney number |
Test code CPT 80048. Cost and Medicare coverage for the BMP →
The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): the same 8, plus 6 for the liver
The CMP is the BMP with six more measurements added. The extras check your liver and the proteins in your blood. That is why a doctor who wants to see how a medication is affecting your liver will order a CMP rather than a BMP.
| Added measurement | What it tells your doctor |
|---|---|
| Total protein | All the protein in your blood |
| Albumin | The main blood protein, made by the liver |
| Bilirubin | A waste product the liver clears |
| ALP (alkaline phosphatase) | A liver and bone enzyme |
| ALT | A liver enzyme |
| AST | A liver enzyme |
Test code CPT 80053. Cost and Medicare coverage for the CMP →
Which one will you get?
Your doctor decides, and the order will say which. If you’re only being checked for kidney function or electrolytes, a BMP is enough. If your liver matters too, because of a medication, alcohol, or liver disease, it’s a CMP. The price difference is small. Medicare pays the lab about two dollars more for the CMP.
Two things a “basic panel” usually does not include
- A blood count (CBC). Red cells, white cells, and platelets are a separate test. Doctors often order it alongside a metabolic panel, so it may be in the same draw. CBC cost and coverage →
- Cholesterol. That’s a lipid panel, also separate. Lipid panel cost and coverage →
Vitamin D, thyroid tests, and A1c are also separate tests, each with its own code and its own Medicare rules. Some of those have coverage limits that a basic panel doesn’t. Look up any test →
Do you have to fast?
Often, yes. Both panels include glucose, and the National Library of Medicine notes you “may need to fast (not eat or drink) for eight hours before the test.” Labcorp suggests 10 to 12 hours when your doctor asks for fasting. Water is fine, and so are your usual medications unless your doctor said otherwise. If your order doesn’t say, call before the day. Our fasting guide →
What Medicare pays, and what you pay
Neither panel has a special Medicare policy. The general rule applies: covered when your doctor orders it for a medical reason, which is nearly always. When it’s covered, you pay $0, with no deductible and no coinsurance.
| Panel | Medicare pays the lab | You pay if covered |
|---|---|---|
| Basic metabolic panel | $8.46 | $0 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | $10.56 | $0 |
Those amounts are worth remembering if a lab ever asks you to sign a payment agreement for one of these panels. The test pages show what the same panel costs to buy directly, which is far less than most signature-pad prices. What to do before you go →
Sources
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Basic Metabolic Panel
- MedlinePlus: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Labcorp: Fasting for Blood Work
- Medicare payment amounts: CMS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, 2026 Q3
Checked September 23, 2026. This page explains what the tests measure. It is not medical advice, and it can’t tell you what your results mean. Your doctor can.
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