A bilirubin test helps your physician determine the amount of bilirubin present in a blood sample. Bilirubin is produced by the liver when it breaks down old red blood cells and is subsequently carried out of the body through the stool. Bilirubin circulates in the blood in direct and indirect form and a bilirubin test determines the level of bilirubin present in the blood. A bilirubin test is essential because irregular levels of bilirubin in the body could be indicative of a variety of disorders. A high level of bilirubin for instance, indicates several kinds of disorders. These disorders include jaundice, disorders of the liver like cirrhosis and hepatitis. A bilirubin test can also help locate blockages in the bile duct, the presence of tumors and gallstones. High bilirubin levels can be particularly harmful for infants and should thus be diagnosed immediately. High bilirubin levels in infants could lead to hearing loss, physical abnormalities, muscle disorders and brain damage. In addition, bilirubin tests help isolate conditions like neonatal jaundice that can be fatal for infants.
Generally, to prepare for a bilirubin test, adults will be asked not to eat or drink anything at least four hours prior to the test. The results for the test will usually be available in two hours time. It is important to remember however that the time taken for test results may vary from one laboratory to the other. Similarly, a normal value for bilirubin levels in the blood may also vary from one laboratory to the other. The bilirubin that circulates in the blood may be direct or indirect. Direct bilirubin or conjugated bilirubin is soluble in water while indirect or uncojugated bilirubin is not soluble in water. Normal values for total bilirubin for an adult is 1.3-1.0 mg/dL or 5.1-17.0 mmol/L. The normal value for direct bilirubin or conjugated bilirubin is 0.1 - 0.3 mg/dL or 1.7-5.1 mmol/L. For indirect or unconjugated bilirubin, the normal values are 0.2-0.8 mg/dL or 3.4-12.0 mmol/L. Consult your medical practitioner to help understand your bilirubin tests. If your bilirubin levels are high, then this may be indicative of a number of disorders. Certain kinds of infections like cholecystitis or an infected bladder, hereditary diseases like Gilbert's syndrome which affects the processing of bilirubin by the liver can lead to high levels of bilirubin in the blood. High bilirubin levels may also be indicative of cancer in the pancreas or diseases that result in a rapid destruction of red blood cells like sickle cell disease.
Submitted by M T on April 7, 2010 at 11:27