Complete metabolic panel
A complete metabolic panel includes the results of the basic metabolic panel above, but digs even deeper. It also assesses your calcium, protein, albumin, bilirubin, phosphatase, AST, and ALT levels. That’s a lot of science, but in short, these are substances that your liver produces or manages.
This test can determine if you have liver or kidney problems and if you are at risk of developing kidney stones or gallstones. Your doctor may order other tests based on the results to see if you have any blockages in your urinary tract, liver, or kidneys.
novak.elcic / ShutterstockLipid Panel
This test assesses your cholesterol level and is broken down into four parts. It looks at good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. Having too much cholesterol in the blood can trigger a heart attack or stroke. So your doctor may want to make sure you’re managing your cholesterol levels with the right diet and the right medications, if needed.
If you have high cholesterol, you may be prescribed medication to treat it. To make sure the medicine is working properly, you may need to have a lipid test regularly so that your doctor can monitor your progress.
