What it measures
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment made when old red blood cells are broken down. The liver takes it up and passes it out in bile. A raised level can come from faster red cell breakdown, a liver problem or blocked bile flow, and a high level causes jaundice.
Why people test it
- Part of a routine liver function test.
- Measured when someone has jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes.
- Often found mildly raised in Gilbert's syndrome, an inherited condition affecting how the liver handles bilirubin.
- Checked when red blood cells may be breaking down faster than usual.
Typical range
Ranges vary between labs with the method used, age and sex, and your report shows the lab's own range. One NHS trust's lab uses below 21 µmol/L for total bilirubin in adults. Source: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: Blood Sciences Reference Range Database v3.20.
Finger-prick or vein?
A finger-prick sample is usually fine. Bilirubin breaks down in strong light, which can lower the result if a sample is left in sunlight.