Definition

Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid produced by the liver.

This article discusses the laboratory test done to measure bilirubin in the blood. Total and direct bilirubin are usually measured to screen for or to monitor liver or gallbladder problems. Large amounts of bilirubin in the body can lead to jaundice.

A test may also be done to measure bilirubin in a urine sample. For information on that test, see: Bilirubin - urine.

Alternative Names

Total bilirubin - blood; Unconjugated bilirubin - blood; Indirect bilirubin - blood; Conjugated bilirubin - blood; Direct bilirubin - blood

How the test is performed

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.

The laboratory specialist spins the blood in a machine called a centrifuge, which separates the liquid part of the blood (serum) from the cells. The bilirubin test is done on the serum.

How to prepare for the test

You should not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the test. Your health care provider may instruct you to stop taking drugs that affect the test.

Drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements include allopurinol, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, antimalaria medications, azathioprine, chlorpropamide, cholinergics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, meperidine, methotrexate, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, birth control pills, phenothiazines, quinidine, rifampin, steroids, sulfonamides, and theophylline.

Drugs that can decrease bilirubin measurements include barbiturates, caffeine, penicillin, and high-dose salicylates such as aspirin.

Why the test is performed

This test is useful in determining if a patient has liver disease or a blocked bile duct.

Bilirubin metabolism begins with the breakdown of red blood cells in many parts of the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is broken down to heme and globin. Heme is converted to bilirubin, which is then carried by albumin in the blood to the liver.

In the liver, most of the bilirubin is chemically attached to another molecule before it is released in the bile. This "conjugated" (attached) bilirubin is called direct bilirubin; unconjugated bilirubin is called indirect bilirubin. Total serum bilirubin equals direct bilirubin plus indirect bilirubin.

Conjugated bilirubin is released into the bile by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, or transferred directly to the small intestines. Bilirubin is further broken down by bacteria in the intestines, and those breakdown products contribute to the color of the feces. A small percentage of these breakdown compounds are taken in again by the body, and eventually appear in the urine.

Normal Values

Direct bilirubin: 0 to 0.3 mg/dL
Total bilirubin: 0.3 to 1.9 mg/dL

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory.

What abnormal results mean

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eye, which occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood at a level greater than approximately 2.5 mg/dL. Jaundice occurs because red blood cells are being broken down too fast for the liver to process. This might happen due to liver disease or bile duct blockage.

If the bile ducts are blocked, direct bilirubin will build up, escape from the liver, and end up in the blood. If the levels are high enough, some of it will appear in the urine. Only direct bilirubin appears in the urine. Increased direct bilirubin usually means that the biliary (liver secretion) ducts are obstructed.

Increased indirect or total bilirubin may be a sign of:

Crigler-Najjar syndrome
Erythroblastosis fetalis
Gilbert's disease
Healing of a large hematoma (bruise or bleeding under the skin)
Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic disease of the newborn
Hepatitis
Physiological jaundice (normal in newborns)
Sickle cell anemia
Transfusion reaction
Pernicious anemia

Increased direct bilirubin may indicate:

Bile duct obstruction
Cirrhosis
Dubin-Johnson syndrome (very rare)
Hepatitis
Intrahepatic cholestasis (buildup of bile in the liver) due to any cause

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

Biliary stricture
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangitis
Choledocholithiasis
Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
Hepatic encephalopathy
Idiopathic aplastic anemia
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Immune hemolytic anemia (including drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia)
Secondary aplastic anemia
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Wilson's disease

Special considerations

Factors that interfere with bilirubin testing are:

Hemolysis (breakdown) of blood will falsely increase bilirubin levels
Lipids in the blood will falsely decrease bilirubin levels
Bilirubin is light-sensitive; it breaks down in light

References

Berk PD, Korenblat KM. Approach to the patient with jaundice or abnormal liver test results. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 150.

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