The BMET blood test is a basic metabolic panel that is ordered to give doctors information about your sugar and calcium levels. It will also measure how your kidneys are functioning, the fluid balances in the body, and the balance of electrolytes. The BMET blood test is often ordered as a routine component of a physical examination and may be ordered during a visit to the emergency room to determine if there are any chemical imbalances that may be causing physical symptoms.
What Does the BMET Blood Test Measure?
Sometimes immediate attention is required to resolve physical symptoms. This blood test will provide information in key areas that can determine what, if any, areas may need to be addressed. The BMET evaluates the following substances.
Glucose.
This sugar is used by the body for energy. High levels may indicate the presence of diabetes, while low levels may indicate the presence of hypoglycemia.
Calcium.
This nutrient plays a vital role in how muscles contract. It also transmits messages through the nerves and helps the body release the hormones that it needs. If calcium levels are abnormal, then there could be problems with the bones, kidneys, pancreas, or a hormone imbalance present.
Electrolytes.
This part of the BMET measures the levels of chloride, potassium, CO2, and sodium that are in the blood. These substances help the body regulate its fluid levels and its acid-base. Heart rhythms and muscle contractions are also influenced by these substances, so an abnormal levels may indicate kidney or heart disease… or something as simple as dehydration.
BUN and Creatinine.
These are waste products that the kidneys work to filter out of the blood. High levels of these substances indicate that the kidneys may not be functioning as they should.
The BMET blood test is very similar to other standard blood panels that are ordered. Each of these results can be achieved with individualized blood tests as needed, but the complete panel will give a doctor a better overview of overall health. If there are abnormalities in this blood panel, then additional tests are generally ordered to determine a specific diagnosis.
How Do You Prepare For the BMET Blood Test?
This blood test may be performed immediately if there is an emergency situation that must be evaluated. If this test is being ordered as part of a standard well-child checkup or as part of an annual physical, then you make be asked to fast from eating or drinking for up to 12 hours before the blood draw.
Children will want to wear a short-sleeved shirt on the day of the blood draw to help make the test easier. If there is difficulty is obtaining a blood draw from a vein in the arm, then the attendant who is performing the procedure may take a blood sample from the heel. Heel blood draw are usually only for infants, but in rare instances, other children may be requested to have the heel location utilized as well.
Mild bruising is the usual side effect. Discomfort may last for several days after the procedure, especially if extensive bruising were to form. Most children have more difficulty with the thought of a needle entering their arm more than the pain or discomfort from the procedure itself.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Results?
If there is an emergency situation that needs to be evaluated, results from the BMET blood test may be available in just a few minutes. That’s because this blood panel is machine-processed. Most results are available within a few hours or the next business day for routine evaluations.
This blood test is considered to be a very safe procedure. Some individuals may feel light-headed afterward, while multiple attempts to draw blood may cause additional pain. In rare instances, a hematoma may form under the skin ad the blood draw site as blood accumulates at the one location and forms a lump.
Most children who received the BMET blood test will have results that are normal. The most common reason for abnormal results is dehydration. The consumption of sugary drinks or foods just before the test occurs may also skew the results, as will certain medications. Be sure to speak with your child’s doctor [or your own] about the lifestyle habits and over the counter medications and supplements that are taken so that a complete picture of health can be obtained.
It can make people nervous to see that their doctor has ordered a blood test. The BMET, however, is a common blood panel that is used to confirm good health or find a potential hidden problem that may not be causing any health symptoms. A yearly BMET may be considered a best practice by some primary care physicians. If this test has been recommended for you and your family, then use this information as a guide for any questions you may have.