CMP blood test

A CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) blood test is a set of specific tests that aid in providing a physician with vital information on the status of a patient's liver, kidneys, blood sugar, blood proteins and electrolyte balance. Often a CMP blood test is part of a yearly examination. The CMP blood test encompasses:

• BUN blood test
  
• Creatinine test
  
• ALP blood test
  
• ALT blood test
  
• AST blood test
  
• Bilirubin test
  
• Glucose test
  
• Calcium test
  
• Albumin test
  
• Total Protein test
  
• Sodium test
  
• Potassium test
  
• CO2 test
  
• Chloride test
  

BUN blood test

Healthy kidneys filter urea nitrogen through the urine. The BUN blood test measures the urea nitrogen levels in your blood as an indicator of the efficiency of the kidneys. BUN - Blood Urea Nitrogen blood test indicates the functioning of the kidneys. The BUN concentration is measured by analysis of serum or plasma. It is also done to check for efficiency of dialysis. BUN blood test measures the levels of urea nitrogen in the blood. BUN blood test results can be compared with creatinine test to check for dehydration. BUN - creatinine ratio can throw light on kidney functioning.

BUN blood test levels

Normal BUN blood levels are 7 - 20 mg/dl. Abnormal levels of BUN are usually indicative of renal failure or bleeding into the stomach or intestines. High levels of BUN in the blood can mean congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, urinary tract obstruction or myocardial infarction. BUN blood levels are noticed to be higher in diabetics. This is due to accumulated stress on the kidneys over years. This leads to kidney failure and dysfunction. Acute dehydration raised BUN blood levels due to inadequate level of fluids in the body. Lower levels of BUN in the blood may suggest malnutrition or liver failure. Some women notice decrease in BUN level in the third trimester of pregnancy.