Chemistry Screen
Test Overview
A chemistry screen is a blood test that measures the levels of several areas or parts of the blood (such as electrolytes). A chemistry screen tells your doctor about your general health, helps look for certain problems, and finds out whether treatment for a specific problem is working.
Some chemistry screens look at more parts of the blood than others do. The most complete form of a chemistry screen (called a chem-20, SMA-20, or SMAC-20) looks at 20 different parts of the blood. Other types of chemistry screens (such as an SMA-6, SMA-7, or SMA-12) look at fewer. The type of chemistry screen you have done depends on what information your doctor is looking for.
The use of groups of tests, or "panels," is limited in Canada. Although a general chemistry screen may still be done in some cases, it is now more common for health professionals to order only the specific individual tests, such as those listed below, that they think are most needed.
For more information about specific parts of a chemistry screen, see the medical tests:
- Albumin
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Bilirubin
- Blood Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Calcium (Ca) in Blood
- Carbon Dioxide
- Chloride (CL)
- Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
- Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance
- Lactic Acid
- Phosphate in Blood
- Potassium (K) in Blood
- Sodium (NA) in Blood
- Total Serum Protein
- Uric Acid in Blood
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| Author: | Carrie Henley Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: August 1, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine | |
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| Topic Contents | |
 | Test Overview |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |