Bilirubin Urine Test
Also known as Bilirubin Total Random UrineWhat is this test?
Total bilirubin random urine test is used to measure the amount of bilirubin in the urine. This test is done to check the functioning of the liver. The urine sample can be collected at any time of the day and immediately sent to the laboratory.
What is Bilirubin?
Total bilirubin is a combination of direct and indirect bilirubin. The liver makes bile which helps in digestion of food, ,and bile consists of bilirubin in it. Most of the bilirubin comes from breaking down of red blood cells during the normal body process. A healthy liver can flush out the bilirubin build up in the body. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment which comes from the normal breakdown of red blood cells and passes through the liver and excreted from the body.
Why this test is performed?
Usually, this test is done as a part of a urinalysis to know how the liver is working. It may investigate jaundice which is also called yellow fever caused due to elevated levels of bilirubin with yellowish skin and eyes, to measure the functioning of liver, liver diseases like hepatitis, to detect destruction of red blood cells, to find out the progress of treatment, to estimate drug toxicity.
This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like stomach pain, dark urine, flu-like symptoms as fever and chills, yellowish skin and eyes, itchy skin, fatigue, etc. This test may also be recommended if you are being treated for liver disease.
Precautions:
Some medicines may interfere with the test results, your healthcare provider may ask you to stop medications for a few days before the test. Hence inform about your current medical condition and medications to the doctor or technician before the test.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Bilirubin Urine Test. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Bilirubin Urine Test.
Wash your hands and clean the genital area before collecting the urine sample.
Understanding your test results
The normal test results may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.
If your total bilirubin levels are elevated it may indicate liver damage. Higher levels of total bilirubin in urine show that liver is not clearing up bilirubin efficiently. This condition is called jaundice. Jaundice can be due to different reasons like rapid breakdown of red blood cells, blood disorder like erythroblastosis fetalis, red blood cell disorder like hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion where red blood cells transfused are destroyed due to immune system, problems with gallbladder like abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct called biliary stricture, gallstones, cancer of pancreas, liver problems like scarring of the liver called as cirrhosis, a disorder in which bilirubin is unprocessed by the liver which is Gilbert disease, hepatitis where liver is inflamed or swollen, etc. Lower levels of bilirubin than the normal reference range is of least concern. It may also be low due to certain medications like phenobarbital, increased vitamin C levels, theophylline, etc.
If you get abnormal test results consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your results.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | Normally Urobilinogen is present in low concentration. It is increased in case of a liver disease |