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Bilirubin Chart for Adults



 Submitted by Nic on April 11, 2011
Bilirubin is a substance that is present in our bile and it is yellowish in color. This substance is produced by the liver when the old cells are broken down and therefore, it can also be described as a waste product. Bilirubin can be found in two forms in the body, which include direct bilirubin, which is soluble and indirect bilirubin, which is insoluble. All people have bilirubin in the body, but if the levels of this substance go very high, it could lead to several health problems, some of which could also include jaundice and brain injury. Since jaundice is very common in children and newborn babies, most doctors monitor the levels of bilirubin in them, just to check if there is a possibility of jaundice and how severe it is likely to be. However, in case of suspected jaundice in adults too, doctors may conduct tests and refer to the normal range of this substance, in a bilirubin chart for adults, or the adult bilirubin chart.

What is a bilirubin chart for adults?

A bilirubin chart for adults can be described as a graphical representation of the normal range or the normal values of bilirubin levels in adults. Hence, in case a person shows the symptoms of high bilirubin levels, such as yellowing of the whites of the eyes, or a yellowish tinge to the skin, a doctor may recommend a bilirubin test. Once the results are available, the reading is compared to the bilirubin chart for adults, which help the medical health care provider to decide whether the levels are normal or not. In order to analyze of the bilirubin levels in adults are normal or not, the doctor will need to look at the values of all three, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and total bilirubin. Given below is the normal bilirubin range in adults:

• Direct bilirubin: 0.1 mg/ dl to 0.3 mg/ dl (1.7 mmol/ l to 5.1 mmol/ l)

• Indirect bilirubin: 0.2 mg/ dl to 0.8 mg/ dl (3.4 mmol/ l to 12.0 mmol/ l)

• Total bilirubin: 0.3 mg/ dl to 1.0 mg/ dl (5.1 mmol/ l to 17.0 mmol/ l)

In case the bilirubin range is high, in it important to begin treatment immediately. The normal levels for bilirubin in children are completely different, as compared to the bilirubin levels in adults. Hence, in case of babies and infants, instead of referring to a bilirubin chart for adults, doctors should use a chart for babies.
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