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.

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:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: May 19, 2006
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine
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