What Is a CHEM-7 Panel?
The CHEM-7 panel is a group of blood tests that provides information about metabolism. This basic metabolic panel is used to test blood sugar levels, blood acid/base balance, electrolytes and kidney function. Depending on the lab performing the panel, it may also evaluate levels of calcium and the protein albumin.
The CHEM-7 panel is also sometimes called SMAC7, sequential multi-channel analysis with computer-7, SMA7, or metabolic panel 7. Normal values for the CHEM-7 panel are 7 to 20 milligrams per deciliter for blood urea nitrogen, 20 to 29 millimoles per liter for carbon dioxide, 0.8 to 1.4 milligrams per deciliter for creatinine, 64 to 128 milligrams per deciliter for glucose, 101 to 111 millimoles per liter for serum chloride, 3.7 to 5.2 milliequivalents per liter for serum potassium and 136 to 144 milliequivalents per liter for serum sodium.
