Bilirubin Test

A bilirubin test is performed when the following diseases/conditions are present or suspected:

• Problems in red blood cell production in conditions such as:
  • Haemolytic anaemia
  • Haemolytic disease of the newborn
• Unhealthy liver and gallbladder caused by conditions such as:
  • Hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Pancreatic tumours
  • Blockage in bile transport
  • Gallstones
  • Pancreatic cancer or liver cancer
  • Excessive alcohol
• This test is also done to monitor treatment of any of the above conditions and to evaluate drug toxicity

The commonly observed symptoms of these conditions are:

• Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dark urine
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Fever and chills (symptoms of flu)

No special preparation is needed for this test.

However, the doctor should be informed if any medications or supplements are being taken. He/she should also know about any current conditions such as pregnancy or allergies.

The test takes less than 5 minutes.

A healthcare professional will withdraw a blood sample. A tourniquet is tied on the upper arm for easy visualization of the targeted vein. The needle insertion site is identified and cleaned with an antiseptic solution. One may feel a slight prick as the needle is inserted into the blood vessel for withdrawal of blood. Swelling and bruising of the site may occasionally occur; however, it usually disappears in some time. Rarely, the needle puncture site may develop an infection.

If the test results show normal levels of bilirubin in blood, it indicates a normal liver and red blood cell metabolism.

Normal results:

Normally, urine contains some amount of bilirubin. However, if it is present at abnormally high or low levels, it indicates some form of liver damage or blockage. The results will also need to be correlated to existing co-morbidities and other test results.

Normal range of bilirubin is as below. However, it may vary from laboratory to laboratory.

• Total bilirubin: 0.0-1.4 mg/dL
• Direct bilirubin: 0.0-0.3 mg/dL
• Indirect bilirubin: 0.2-1.2 mg/dL

Abnormal results:

High bilirubin levels are found in the following conditions:

• Infections such as cholecystitis and hepatitis
• Liver damage caused by conditions such as cirrhosis and mononucleosis
• Gallstone, cancer and tumour of the pancreas
• Increased rate of red blood cell destruction, sickle cell disease or transfusion reaction
• Medications such as antibiotics, diazepam, flurazepam, indomethacin and phenytoin
• Hereditary disorders such as Gilbert’s syndrome or other congenital infections
• Newborn hypoxia and mother and child blood incompatibility

Low levels of bilirubin are usually not a concern.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. This information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.