A bilirubin blood test measures the levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment made during the breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin passes through the liver and is eventually eliminated from the body. Higher than normal bilirubin levels can indicate different types of liver or bile duct problems. Sometimes, high bilirubin levels can be caused by increased red blood cell damage. So in this guide we will discuss what is the bilirubin blood test.
What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin blood test is a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. After red blood cells have completed their tasks in the body, they are broken down and processed by the liver and mixed with bile. They are excreted from the body along with the bile contents. Increased bilirubin values may be due to poor liver function or severe destruction of red blood cells. If the liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak into the bloodstream and cause jaundice. A bilirubin blood test can help identify diseases of the liver.
What is a bilirubin blood test?
A bilirubin blood test is a laboratory evaluation of a blood sample. Bilirubin blood test, performed by health care professionals, is done with a blood sample taken from an arm vein in adults, and with a blood sample taken from the heel in newborns. Experts may ask the patient not to eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the test or give different instructions. The necessary information is given to the patient by the specialist.
Why Do You Get the Bilirubin Test?
A bilirubin blood test is usually one of a group of tests done to check the health of the liver. A bilirubin blood test may be done to:
- Check for jaundice, a disease that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes due to high levels of bilirubin. This test is commonly used to measure bilirubin levels in newborns with infantile jaundice.
- Determine if there is a blockage in the bile ducts, either in the liver or gallbladder.
- bilirubin blood test help detect liver disease, especially hepatitis, or monitor the progress of the disease.
- Help evaluate anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells.
- Help monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
- Help evaluate the toxicity of suspected drugs.
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What does bilirubin do in your body?
Bilirubin is a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin. As red blood cells age, they break down and are eaten by phagocytes. The hemoglobin protein is then divided into two parts: heme and globin. The heme molecule is converted into bilirubin and transported to the liver. In the liver, most of the bilirubin is bound to a substance called glucuronide before it is excreted through the gallbladder.
Bilirubin that is not bound to glucuronide is called indirect bilirubin, while bilirubin that is bound to this substance is called direct bilirubin after this process. Bilirubin is transported to the gallbladder, where it is converted into urobilin, the substance that gives stool its brown color. In return, a small portion of bilirubin is excreted in the urine as urobilinogen.
Who Should Get a Bilirubin Test?
A person is asked to bilirubin blood test in the following cases:
- The person has symptoms of jaundice, which include dark urine, stomach pain, nausea, abdominal pain and bloating, or feeling abdominal pain and bloating.
- The appearance of symptoms indicating that the person has been poisoned by taking certain medications.
- The person has been exposed to a virus that causes hepatitis.
- The person has drunk alcohol excessively for a long period
What Happens During a Bilirubin Test?
For a bilirubin blood test, a health care professional uses a small needle to take a blood sample from a vein in your arm. You may feel a slight sting when the needle is inserted into your arm. Collecting the blood sample itself takes only a few minutes. For infants, a small amount of blood is drawn from the baby’s heel instead. For a urine bilirubin test, you will be given a urine collection container and taken to a special restroom to collect a urine sample. You may receive additional instructions from your health care professional on how to use the “clean catch” method to collect a sterile “spot” urine sample. This method involves washing your hands, cleaning your genitals, and urinating a small amount of urine into the toilet before placing it in the urine collection container.
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How Do You Prepare for the Bilirubin Test?
A bilirubin blood test involves drawing blood from a vein in your arm. Urine bilirubin tests require a urine sample. The bilirubin blood test is done in your doctor’s office, a lab, or a clinic. If you’re having a blood bilirubin test, your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink for four hours before the test. It’s important to tell your doctor what medications you’re taking, as many medications can interfere with the results of a bilirubin test. Your doctor will tell you if you need to stop taking your medications before your bilirubin test, but don’t stop taking your medications without talking to your doctor first.
Results and Follow-Up
Bilirubin blood test results indicate the amount of direct, indirect, or total bilirubin. Total bilirubin is a combination of direct and indirect bilirubin. You usually get both direct and total bilirubin results.
The usual total bilirubin results are 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for adults and 1 mg/dL for people younger than 18 years old. In general, the usual direct bilirubin results are 0.3 mg/dL.
These results can vary slightly from lab to lab. Results may be slightly different in women and children. Results may also be affected by certain foods, medications, or strenuous exercise. For this reason, be sure to tell your doctor about your activity levels, as well as any foods or medications you’ve taken.
Bilirubin levels that are lower than normal are usually not a cause for concern. Higher direct bilirubin levels in your blood may mean that your liver isn’t getting rid of bilirubin properly. This could indicate liver damage or disease. High levels of indirect bilirubin can indicate other problems.
A common, harmless cause of high bilirubin is Gilbert’s syndrome, a deficiency in the enzyme that helps break down bilirubin. Your doctor will likely order more tests to study your condition. bilirubin blood test results may also be used to monitor certain conditions, such as jaundice
How Long Does it Take to Get Your Results?
Blood samples taken to measure bilirubin must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. It may take several days from the time the blood sample is taken until the test results are available. The urine sample is analyzed in the doctor’s office or sent to the laboratory for analysis. The doctor will explain when the result of the urine bilirubin test will be available.
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Can I take the test at home?
At-home bilirubin blood test is not available. Some home urine test kits can measure several parameters, including urinary bilirubin. With these kits, a urine sample is typically collected in the provided cup, a test strip is dipped in the cup, or urine is dripped onto the test strip with a dropper. It is important that the results of a home bilirubin test be interpreted under medical supervision. If a home urine test shows bilirubin in the blood, your doctor may want to repeat the urine test or perform other follow-up bilirubin test to confirm the results.
How much does the test cost?
The price of a bilirubin test near me depends on your health insurance coverage, the location of the test, and whether or not you will have additional tests from your doctor. There may be out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-payments. Check with your insurance company or health care provider for information about the cost of a bilirubin test.
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bilirubin blood test at home with Lana Life Care
At Lana Life Care Center, we provide Home Health Care Services In Dubai of various types, including blood test at home and blood test for cancer and among the tests is the bilirubin test, where we guarantee you the accuracy of the results, the speed of obtaining the result, and the privacy of each case, and you can also obtain medical advice.
Conclusion
At the conclusion of the text, the bilirubin test is one of the very important tests that indicates the body’s vitality and determines if any infection is found, so you must choose a good medical laboratory, and it is worth noting that Lana Life Care provides home examination services, which include bilirubin blood test.
FAQS
What causes high bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia)?
Bile Duct Obstruction is one of the causes of high bilirubin, as bilirubin cannot be delivered to the small intestine by bile juice, and this is often the result of: Liver fibrosis. Gallstones.
What is a normal bilirubin level?
Normal result: Direct bilirubin level is less than 0.3 mg/dL, and total bilirubin is between 0.1 – 1.2 mg/dL.
What cancers cause high bilirubin?
Leukemia or lymphoma may cause high bilirubin levels in the blood.
What foods cause high bilirubin?
Fatty and fried foods: Fatty and fried foods contain a high percentage of unhealthy fats that can strain the liver and hinder its ability to process bilirubin.
