Which of the following is NOT a component of a basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

• A. Sodium
• B. Hemoglobin
• C. Glucose
• D. Calcium

Answer: (B)

A basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a routine blood test that measures several important substances in the blood and provides valuable information about a person's metabolism, including the functioning of the kidneys and the balance of electrolytes. The typical components measured in a BMP include sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and sometimes calcium.

Hemoglobin, on the other hand, is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and is not included in a BMP. Instead, hemoglobin levels are typically evaluated through a complete blood count (CBC) test, which assesses various components of blood including red and white blood cells.

Thus, identifying hemoglobin as not being a part of the BMP is accurate, as it pertains to a different aspect of diagnostic testing that focuses on blood cell counts rather than metabolic function and electrolyte balance.