Test details
Total Bilirubin
A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood. It's used to help find the cause of health conditions like jaundice, anemia, and liver disease. Read More
KD 5.00
A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood. It's used to help find the cause of health conditions like jaundice, anemia, and liver disease. Read More
Bilirubin is a byproduct of broken-down old red blood cells. When red blood cells finish their life cycles in the body, they break down and pass through your bloodstream to liver for processing. liver sorts bilirubin with other waste products into a fluid called bile. Bile exits the body through your intestines. Bilirubin is the pigment that gives bile its distinctive yellow color. It also colors the stool.A bilirubin blood test may be used to check the health of your liver, look for the cause of jaundice, or determine how well a treatment is working.
The test is also commonly used to help diagnose newborn jaundice. Many healthy babies get jaundice because their livers haven't developed enough to get rid of the bilirubin. Newborn jaundice is usually not harmful and clears up within a few weeks. But in some cases, high bilirubin levels can lead to brain damage, so infants are often tested as a precaution.
High bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) can be caused by:
Liver Disease: Conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer can impair the liver's ability to process bilirubin.
Hemolytic Anemia: Rapid destruction of red blood cells leads to excess bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Certain Medications: Some drugs, like antibiotics (rifampin, sulfonamides), can interfere with bilirubin processing by the liver.
Inherited Conditions: Gilbert's syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects bilirubin breakdown, causing mild, intermittent high bilirubin levels.
Newborn Jaundice: Common in newborns due to the immaturity of the liver, typically resolving within a few days or weeks.
Total bilirubin is made up of two main types:
Indirect (Unconjugated) Bilirubin:
This is the initial form of bilirubin that is produced when red blood cells are broken down. It is not water-soluble and travels through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is processed.
Elevated levels of unconjugated bilirubin can indicate conditions such as hemolytic anemia or Gilbert's syndrome, where there is increased breakdown of red blood cells or impaired liver processing.
Direct (Conjugated) Bilirubin:
After reaching the liver, indirect bilirubin is converted into direct (conjugated) bilirubin, which becomes water-soluble and is excreted through bile.
Elevated levels of direct bilirubin can suggest liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or bile duct obstructions (e.g., gallstones or biliary atresia).
Direct Bilirubin Test: Measures the level of conjugated (direct) bilirubin in the blood, helping to diagnose liver disease or bile duct blockages.
Indirect Bilirubin Test: Measures unconjugated bilirubin, which can help identify conditions like hemolytic anemia or Gilbert's syndrome.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs): A group of tests, including ALT, AST, Albumin and alkaline phosphatase, that assess liver health and function, often ordered alongside bilirubin tests.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Can help identify hemolytic anemia or other blood-related issues contributing to increased bilirubin levels.
Prothrombin Time (PT): A test to measure blood clotting. Prolonged PT can suggest liver dysfunction, often associated with high bilirubin levels.
Hepatitis Panel: A series of tests to check for hepatitis infections that can lead to high bilirubin levels.
It will take several hours to get the result.
Dark urine
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain or abdominal swelling
Clay-colored stools
Fatigue
Visible jaundice (yellowing of your skin and eyes)
Bloating
Itching
