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Test Code LAB15 Basic Metaboli Panel (BMP)

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Note: This test includes analysis of: Sodium; Postassium; Chloride; CO2 (carbon dioxide); BUN; Creatinine; Glucose; and Calcium

 

Patient Preparation: Eating affects results. Be sure to determine if fasting (>8 hours) or random specimen after meal is required

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mint green-top lithium heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Green samplette/microtainer, plain red-top tube, or Gold SST gel tube

Submission Container/Tube:  If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a microtainer or plain red-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 2.0 mL (minimum 1.0 mL)

Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly

 

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: See individual test listings

Critical Value: See individual test listings

Any Critical result will be called back automatically initially 

 

Methodology

See individual test listings

Limitations

  • Hemolysis can interfere with Potassium concentrations

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate within 2 hours of collection. If specimen is collected in microtainer or plain red-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: 0.3 mL plasma/serum

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 2 hours 
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred) *
  Ambient  *
  Frozen  *
*See individual test listings for processed stability for individual analyte needed

 

NOTE:

  1. if specimen is received in plain, red-top or serum gel tube, check if LIS order is for serum or plasma. If order is for "Basic Met Plas" cancel and re-order as "Basic Met Ser". 
  2. If specimen is received with grey-top (Na-Fluoride) tube, make sure the order is for "Basic Met P+Gluc" and glucose is done on grey-top tube (giving both tubes to chemistry bench together)

Test Classification and CPT Code

80048

LOINC

Sodium 2951-2   BUN 3094-0
Potassium 2823-3   Creat 2160-0
Chloride 2075-0   Glucose 2345-7
CO2 Totl 1962-0                Calcium 17861-6

 

Last Reviewed

06/2025