Bilirubin Total
Understanding Bilirubin Total
What is Bilirubin Total?
A Bilirubin Total test measures the amount of bilirubin (indirect and direct) in your body. This test may be performed if your doctor suspects a liver disorder, like jaundice, gallstones, hepatitis, etc. It is done as part of routine health checkups or a liver function test to monitor your overall liver health.
Bilirubin is a byproduct of old, broken, or damaged red blood cells. When red blood cells complete their life cycle of 120 days in your body, they break down and move to the liver for processing. Your liver converts bilirubin and other waste products into a fluid called bile. This bile is passed out of your body through the intestines. Bilirubin is the pigment that gives bile its distinctive yellow color.
You may need a Bilirubin Total test if you experience symptoms suggestive of liver problems, such as extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, belly pain, dark-colored urine, pale-colored stool, and the yellowing of the skin and eyes. This test also helps to monitor jaundice in newborns (neonatal jaundice) or check the blockage in the bile ducts that may be due to gallstones. Usually, no special preparation is required for this test; eat and drink as per your daily routine.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your liver health and formulate your overall treatment plan.
What is Bilirubin Total used for?
A Bilirubin Total test is done:
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As part of routine health checkups.
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As part of a liver function test.
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To help detect liver diseases, such as jaundice or hemolytic anemia.
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To monitor an existing liver disease and its treatment response.
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To find out if there is a blockage in the bile duct.
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In case of a history of excessive alcohol drinking.
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To detect and monitor neonatal jaundice.
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In case of exposure to the hepatitis virus.
What does Bilirubin Total measure?
A Bilirubin Total examination quantifies the levels of total bilirubin in the body, encompassing both indirect (unconjugated) and direct (conjugated) bilirubin. Bilirubin, a yellowish waste substance, is primarily generated during the breakdown of aging red blood cells (RBCs) in the body. After their typical lifespan of 120 days, RBCs disintegrate in the liver, leading to the production of a substantial amount of bilirubin. It is crucial for this bilirubin to be eliminated from the body.
Interpreting Bilirubin Total results
Interpretations
The normal values of total bilirubin may range from 0.30 mg/dL to 1.20 mg/dL.
The reference range may vary from lab to lab*
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Increased total bilirubin which is mainly unconjugated may be due to hemolytic anemia, transfusion reactions
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Increased total bilirubin which is mainly conjugated may be due to viral hepatitis, drug reactions, alcoholic liver disease, gall stones, or any obstruction in the bile ducts
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Low levels of bilirubin are usually not a cause for concern and therefore not monitored