Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

An electrolyte panel is typically ordered to check the levels of various electrolytes in the blood, including sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. These values are crucial in assessing a patient's electrolyte balance and can help diagnose potential causes of the symptoms like muscle cramps and fatigue, which could be indicative of conditions such as hypokalemia or hyponatremia. The option of a lipid panel does not assess electrolytes, it measures lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides. A complete blood count (CBC) provides important information about the blood cells but does not give details about electrolyte levels. Lastly, while hemoglobin A1C is critical in monitoring diabetes, it is not used to evaluate electrolyte imbalances.