Metabolic Health Panel — Glucose, Liver, Kidney & Electrolytes

The metabolic health panel at Laboratoře Mikrochem is a comprehensive biochemistry screen covering 15 or more markers across the four key metabolic systems: glucose and diabetes status (glucose + HbA1c), liver health (ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin), kidney function (urea, creatinine, eGFR), and electrolyte balance (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium). Uric acid is included for gout and metabolic syndrome assessment. All markers are processed on automated photometric biochemistry analysers under ISO 15189 accreditation at the main Olomouc laboratory, with results available within 2 working days. The panel provides a snapshot of metabolic health for annual screening or for monitoring patients on long-term medications. No physician referral is required; fasting (8 hours) is recommended for accurate glucose values.

Metabolic dysfunction underlies much of modern chronic disease — from type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risk — and many of these conditions are entirely silent until significant damage has occurred. The metabolic health panel at Laboratoře Mikrochem covers the core biochemistry markers used in general practice annual health checks, evaluated under ISO 15189 accreditation with daily quality controls and SEKK external quality assessment participation. Glucose and HbA1c anchor the diabetes assessment. Fasting plasma glucose (above 7.0 mmol/L) or HbA1c (above 48 mmol/mol / 6.5%) indicates diabetes; intermediate values indicate pre-diabetes — a reversible state where lifestyle interventions can prevent progression. HbA1c reflects average glucose control over the preceding 2–3 months, making it more robust than a single fasting glucose measurement and unaffected by acute dietary changes around the draw. Liver enzymes provide a window into hepatocyte integrity and biliary function. ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is the most liver-specific marker — elevated ALT in the absence of other causes usually indicates hepatocellular damage, seen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (the most common cause in adults), viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, or medication toxicity (statins, paracetamol, NSAIDs). AST may be elevated alongside ALT but is less liver-specific (also elevated in muscle damage). GGT is sensitive for biliary obstruction and alcohol-related liver disease. Alkaline phosphatase rises in cholestatic conditions and bone disorders. Total bilirubin reflects both liver conjugation capacity and red cell haemolysis. Kidney function is assessed via urea and creatinine with calculated eGFR. Creatinine-based eGFR (using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation) is the standard staging marker for chronic kidney disease; values below 60 mL/min/1.73m² on two consecutive tests more than 3 months apart define CKD. Urea provides complementary information about protein catabolism and hydration status. Electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium — are essential for screening any patient on diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or medications that shift electrolyte balance. Uric acid completes the metabolic picture: hyperuricaemia predicts gout risk, is associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, and is elevated by fructose-rich diets, certain medications, and impaired kidney excretion. The panel is particularly suited to adults over 30 who have not had biochemistry screening in the past year, patients newly diagnosed with hypertension, anyone starting statin or other long-term medication, and patients with a family history of type 2 diabetes, liver or kidney disease. Walk-in blood draws are available at all five Mikrochem sites from 07:00 (Olomouc main, Přerov, Šumperk, Valašské Meziříčí) and from 06:30 at the Janského Street collection point. No physician referral is required for self-paying patients.