Test Results and Bilirubin Levels: Understanding High vs. Low

 

Did you know that bilirubin is produced when old red blood cells break down?

When the red blood cells have completed their life cycles in your body, they degrade and travel through your bloodstream to the liver for further processing. The liver separates bilirubin and other residuals into bile, and the bile exits the body through your intestines.

Bilirubin is primarily a pigment compound. It is red-orange in colour and is responsible for the distinctive colour of your stool and bile. In this article, we are going to delve into the particularities of a bilirubin blood test and why it is done, along with discussing the high and low results of the test and what they mean for you.

 

The bilirubin test

Bilirubin levels can be detected in both urine and blood. Most typical urine tests usually check the bilirubin as well. If a normal urine test detects bilirubin, you will be advised to take additional testing to determine bilirubin levels in your blood.

The bilirubin blood test detects the bilirubin levels in your bloodstream. A small sample of your blood from a vein is collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will measure your bilirubin levels to determine if they are within the usual range.

 If your bilirubin levels are greater than normal, it means that either your red blood cells are breaking down at an abnormal pace or that your liver isn't properly breaking down waste and removing bilirubin from your blood. Another possibility is that there is a malfunction somewhere along the system that transports the bilirubin from your liver into your stool. Whereas, a low bilirubin level may be a result of caffeine or certain medications, or it might be linked to autoimmune diseases you have.

Another non-invasive bilirubin test is the transcutaneous bilirubin test, which is usually used to test bilirubin levels in infants and young children. This test is done using a gadget that’s placed on the baby’s chest or head. The equipment sends a light flash through your skin to determine the results.

Before undergoing the test, telling your doctor how active you've been and what foods and medications you've consumed is a good idea because certain drugs may affect your results. After the test, you are usually able to go back to your daily activities immediately. It is also advised to avoid drinking and eating four hours before the test.

 

Who takes the bilirubin test?

Doctors often prescribe bilirubin tests for newborn babies to check if they are at risk of a liver disease or jaundice. But for adults, doctors prescribe this test for various reasons. Having anaemia or a low red blood cell count, signs of jaundice, a history of heavy drinking, a history of hepatitis viruses, cirrhosis, or a reaction to drugs are common reasons for your doctor to prescribe you a bilirubin test. If you experience symptoms such as dark urine, clay-coloured stools, fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, or swelling, your bilirubin levels may need to be evaluated too.

 

Test Results and Bilirubin Levels

The bilirubin test measures the total bilirubin, and the results are reported as direct (conjugated), indirect (unconjugated) , and total bilirubin. Total bilirubin is the combination of direct and indirect bilirubin, and you will often receive the results for direct and total bilirubin.

Unconjugated bilirubin is the bilirubin from red blood cell breakdown that travels through the blood to the liver. Conjugated bilirubin is the bilirubin that undergoes chemical change in the liver and is transferred to the intestine later.

Adults over the age of 18 have a normal total bilirubin level of up to 1.2 mg/dl. For children under 18, the typical level is 1 mg/dL. Normal conjugated (direct) bilirubin levels should be less than 0.3 mg/dL. But normal bilirubin levels in infants can reach up to 12 mg/dL. Keep in mind that these results may have slight variations in women and children and might depend on certain drugs you take, food habits, and lifestyle.

Lower-than-normal bilirubin levels (hypobilirubinemia) are normally not considered an issue in most cases. Certain drugs and caffeine may cause low bilirubin levels.

Higher bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) are another matter. In adults, bilirubin levels above 2.0 mg/dl indicate jaundice, and doctors usually recommend treatment for infants whose bilirubin levels exceed 15 mg/dl. In addition to jaundice, high bilirubin levels indicate a reaction to blood transfusion, cirrhosis,  anaemia, viral hepatitis, liver disease due to alcohol abuse, drugs, and gallstones. But one harmless and common cause of high bilirubin levels is Gilbert’s syndrome. It is an inherited syndrome that causes a deficiency of an enzyme that helps breakdown bilirubin.

 

Diagnose right!

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