Chem 7
Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test
| Stands for | Seven-test chemistry panel |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
Chem 7 stands for Seven-test chemistry panel, a laboratory test abbreviation.
Hospital shorthand for the seven core chemistries: sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, BUN, creatinine and glucose. It is essentially a basic metabolic panel without calcium, and residents still say "send a Chem 7" when they want a quick check of electrolytes and kidney function.
Example: Repeat Chem 7 at 1600 after the second dose of IV furosemide.
Usage notes
Variants include Chem 8 (adding calcium, i.e. the BMP) and Chem 10 (adding calcium, magnesium and phosphorus). The name dates from early automated analyzers that ran a fixed number of tests per channel. Point-of-care cartridges such as the i-STAT CHEM8+ deliver a similar panel at the bedside within minutes.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- BUN – Blood urea nitrogen
- C&S – Culture and sensitivity
- Ca – Calcium
- CAP – College of American Pathologists
- CBC – Complete blood count
- CBC w/ diff – Complete blood count with differential
- CK – Creatine kinase
- CK-MB – Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme
- Cl – Chloride
- CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
- CMP – Comprehensive metabolic panel
- CO2 – Total carbon dioxide (serum bicarbonate)
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.