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.