Week 4 Blog #1

Week 4 January 25-31
Monday, January 25, 2016
4p-8p 4 Hours Interned

Objective #2:
2. Will verbally demonstrate knowledge of tests included in a CMP and CBC/diff including                  abnormalities, what disease process they might indicate and possible signs and symptoms            that the patient might demonstrate given these values.

Because there is a lot of info to this objective I have broken down components of it to explain over the next few weeks. I will First start with the CMP test and a little background on it.

What is a CMP test?
A CMP test is known as a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP). It’s a test ordered by your doctor that tests 14 different components. The CMP test measures particular values in an individual’s blood. These blood values show the current status of someone’s kidney and liver function, electrolyte and acid/base balance, and your blood sugar and protein levels. It is a common test to check conditions such as diabetes and liver and kidney diseases. CMP tests can also be ordered to monitor known problems such as hypertension, drug therapies, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.

When is a CMP test ordered?
An individual’s doctor will order a CMP test as part of routine blood work. Typically once a year as part of a routine physical. The doctor can order it again depending of the abnormal values to follow up on them and compare at a later date (after treatment etc.)

How is a CMP test performed?
A doctor will order a CMP test and ask an individual to fast for 10-12 hours prior to the test. The tests consist of drawing blood by inserting a needle into a vein in the individuals arm.

What components are being measured from a CMP test?
There are 14 components to a CMP test. The 14 components are:
1. Albumin
2. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
3. Calcium
4. Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate)
5. Chloride
6. Creatinine
7. Glucose
8. Potassium
9. Sodium
10. Total Bilirubin
11. Total Protein
12. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
13. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
14. Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
I will explain later what the normal range of these values are, abnormal values, and the disease process that may be related to the abnormal value.