Blood-tests Explained


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This website is intended to assist with patient education and should not be used as a diagnostic, treatment or prescription service, forum or platform. Always consult your own healthcare practitioner for a more personalised and detailed opinion

Bilirubin


At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To screen for or monitor liver disorders or hemolytic anemia; to monitor neonatal jaundice

When to Get Tested?

When you have signs or symptoms of liver damage, liver disease, bile duct blockage, hemolytic anemia, or a liver-related metabolic problem, or if a newborn has jaundice

Sample Required?

In adults, a blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm; in newborns, a blood sample from a heelstick; non-invasive technology is available in some healthcare facilities that will measure bilirubin by using an instrument placed on the skin (transcutaneous bilirubin meter)

Test Preparation Needed?

You may need to fast (nothing but water) for several hours before the test; fasting requirements vary by laboratory; ask your lab or healthcare provider for instructions.

The Test Sample

What is being tested?

Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment, a waste product primarily produced by the normal breakdown of heme. Heme is a component of hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells (RBCs). Bilirubin is ultimately processed by the liver to allow its elimination from the body. This test measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood to evaluate a person's liver function or to help diagnose anemias caused by RBC destruction (hemolytic anemia).

RBCs normally degrade after about 120 days in circulation. As heme is released from hemoglobin, it is converted to bilirubin. This form of bilirubin is also called unconjugated bilirubin. Unconjugated bilirubin is carried by proteins to the liver; there, sugars are attached (conjugated) to bilirubin to form conjugated bilirubin. Conjugated bilirubin enters the bile and passes from the liver to the small intestines; there, it is further broken down by bacteria and eventually eliminated in the stool. Thus, the breakdown products of bilirubin give stool its characteristic brown color.Drawing of the biliary system

A small amount (approximately 250 to 350 milligrams) of bilirubin is produced daily in a normal, healthy adult. Most (85%) of bilirubin is derived from damaged or degraded RBCs, with the remaining amount derived from the bone marrow or liver. Normally, small amounts of unconjugated bilirubin are released into the blood, but virtually no conjugated bilirubin is present. Both forms can be measured or estimated by laboratory tests, and a total bilirubin result (a sum of these) may also be reported.

If the bilirubin level increases in the blood, a person may appear jaundiced, with a yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes. The pattern of bilirubin test results can give the health practitioner information regarding the condition that may be present. For example, unconjugated bilirubin may be increased when there is an unusual amount of RBC destruction (hemolysis) or when the liver is unable to process bilirubin (i.e., with liver diseases such as cirrhosis or inherited problems). Conversely, conjugated bilirubin can increase when the liver is able to process bilirubin but is not able to pass the conjugated bilirubin to the bile for removal; when this happens, the cause is often acute hepatitis or blockage of the bile ducts.

Increased total and unconjugated bilirubin levels are relatively common in newborns in the first few days after birth. This finding is called "physiologic jaundice of the newborn" and occurs because the newborn's liver is not mature enough to process bilirubin yet. Usually, physiologic jaundice of the newborn resolves itself within a few days. However, in hemolytic disease of the newborn, RBCs may be destroyed because of blood incompatibilities between the baby and the mother; in these cases, treatment may be required because high levels of unconjugated bilirubin can damage the newborn's brain.

A rare (about 1 in 10,000 births) but life-threatening congenital condition called biliary atresia can cause increased total and conjugated bilirubin levels in newborns. This condition must be quickly detected and treated, usually with surgery, to prevent serious liver damage that may require liver transplantation within the first few years of life. Some children may require liver transplantation despite early surgical treatment.

How is the sample collected for testing?

In adults, blood is typically collected from a vein in the arm using a needle. In newborns, blood is often collected from a heelstick. Heelstick is a technique that uses a small, sharp blade to cut the skin on the infant's heel so that a few drops of blood can be collected in a small tube. Non-invasive technology that measures bilirubin through the skin is available in some healthcare facilities; this instrument is called a transcutaneous bilirubin meter.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

You may need to fast (nothing but water) for several hours before the test; fasting requirements vary by laboratory. Ask your lab or healthcare provider for instructions.

The Test