Chemistry Screen

Test Overview

A chemistry screen is a blood test that measures the levels of several substances in 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 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:

• Albumin
• Alkaline Phosphatase
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
• Bilirubin (total and direct)
• Blood Glucose
• Blood Urea Nitrogen
• Calcium (Ca) in Blood
• Carbon Dioxide
• Chloride (Cl)
• Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
• Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
• Lactate dehydrogenase
• Phosphate in Blood
• Potassium (K) in Blood
• Sodium (Na) in Blood
• Total Serum Protein
• Uric Acid in Blood

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: April 17, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine
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