Also Known As
Total bilirubin, conjugated or direct bilirubin, unconjugated or indirect bilirubin
Formal Name
Bilirubin
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 20 October 2021.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To screen for, detect and monitor liver disorders and haemolytic anaemia. To monitor neonatal jaundice and help detect certain rare genetic disorders in sick babies.

When To Get Tested?

If your doctor thinks you have symptoms or signs of liver damage, liver disease, bile duct blockage, haemolytic anaemia or a liver-related metabolic problem. In sick babies with jaundice.

Sample Required?

In adults, blood is collected by needle from a vein in the arm. In newborns, a few drops of blood are usually collected from a heel-prick. Sometimes in newborns bilirubin is estimated by placing a device on the skin called a transcutaneous bilirubin meter. This device is non-invasive, but in some situations it will need to be followed up by a blood test.

Test Preparation Needed?

No test preparation is necessary. The blood sample should ideally be protected from bright light before analysis.

On average it takes 7 working days for the blood test results to come back from the hospital, depending on the exact tests requested. Some specialist test results may take longer, if samples have to be sent to a reference (specialist) laboratory. The X-ray & scan results may take longer. If you are registered to use the online services of your local practice, you may be able to access your results online. Your GP practice will be able to provide specific details.

If the doctor wants to see you about the result(s), you will be offered an appointment. If you are concerned about your test results, you will need to arrange an appointment with your doctor so that all relevant information including age, ethnicity, health history, signs and symptoms, laboratory and other procedures (radiology, endoscopy, etc.), can be considered.

Lab Tests Online-UK is an educational website designed to provide patients and carers with information on laboratory tests used in medical care. We are not a laboratory and are unable to comment on an individual's health and treatment.

Reference ranges are dependent on many factors, including patient age, sex, sample population, and test method, and numeric test results can have different meanings in different laboratories.

For these reasons, you will not find reference ranges for the majority of tests described on this web site. The lab report containing your test results should include the relevant reference range for your test(s). Please consult your doctor or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range if you do not have the lab report.

For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment, a waste product primarily produced by the normal breakdown of haem, which is a component of a protein called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is found in red blood cells and gives them their characteristic red colour and is used to carry oxygen round the body. Bilirubin is ultimately processed by the liver to allow its elimination from the body. This test measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood...

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