Chemistry Screen

A chemistry screen is a blood test that measures the levels of several substances in the blood (such as Reference electrolytes Opens New Window). 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 substances in 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 things in 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:

• Reference Albumin.
• Reference Alkaline Phosphatase.
• Reference Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT).
• Reference Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST).
• Reference Bilirubin (total and direct).
• Reference Blood Glucose.
• Reference Blood Urea Nitrogen.
• Reference Calcium (Ca) in Blood.
• Reference Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate).
• Reference Chloride (Cl).
• Reference Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests.
• Reference Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance.
• Reference Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Opens New Window.
• Reference Lactate Dehydrogenase Opens New Window.
• Reference Phosphate in Blood.
• Reference Potassium (K) in Blood.
• Reference Sodium (Na) in Blood.
• Reference Total Serum Protein.
• Reference Uric Acid in Blood.

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