Lab Panels Explained
Last updated: September 14, 2026
A lab panel is a group of blood tests ordered together because their results are most useful side by side. The four most common panels are the Complete Blood Count (CBC), the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), the Lipid Panel, and the Thyroid Panel.
What Is a Lab Panel?
Rather than measuring one value at a time, a panel measures a set of related biomarkers from a single blood draw. Looking at the results together helps a healthcare provider see patterns that a single number cannot show. For example, several slightly abnormal values on a CBC can point toward anemia even when no single value looks alarming on its own.
Each guide below explains what the panel measures, the normal reference ranges, and what high or low results may indicate. Every biomarker in a panel also has its own detailed page, linked from the panel guide.
The Four Common Panels
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Counts and measures blood cells — red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Often the first test used to investigate fatigue, infection, or bruising.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Fourteen tests covering blood sugar, kidney function, liver function, and electrolytes — including glucose, creatinine, BUN, ALT, and AST.
Lipid Panel
Measures cholesterol and fats in the blood — total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides — to assess heart and blood vessel health.
Thyroid Panel
Checks how well the thyroid gland is working using TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 — commonly ordered for unexplained weight change, fatigue, or heart palpitations.
Keep Exploring
- How to Read Your Lab Results — a plain-English walkthrough of reference ranges, flags, and units.
- Blood Tests by Condition — which labs doctors order to check for anemia, diabetes, thyroid, kidney, and liver conditions.
- Test Comparisons — side-by-side explainers such as ALT vs AST and LDL vs HDL.