Total Bilirubin
Understand Total Bilirubin levels for liver function and red blood cell breakdown assessment. Monitor hepatic health effectively.
What is Total Bilirubin?
Total bilirubin measures the amount of bilirubin in your blood, which is a yellow pigment produced when red blood cells break down. It reflects both direct (processed by liver) and indirect (unprocessed) bilirubin, serving as a marker of liver function and red blood cell turnover.
Why is it Tested?
Doctors measure total bilirubin to evaluate liver function, diagnose jaundice, assess hemolytic anemia, and monitor liver disease progression. It’s included in comprehensive metabolic panels and helps distinguish between different causes of elevated bilirubin.
Normal Ranges
Reference ranges for total bilirubin:
- Adults: 0.1–1.2 mg/dL
Higher levels may be normal in individuals with Gilbert’s syndrome, a benign genetic condition affecting bilirubin processing.
Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.
What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
Low Total Bilirubin
Very low levels are generally not concerning and may indicate:
- Normal liver function
- Low red blood cell turnover
High Total Bilirubin
Elevated levels may suggest:
- Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis)
- Bile duct obstruction
- Hemolytic anemia
- Gilbert’s syndrome
- Certain medications
- Heart failure
How to Track Over Time
Bilirubin levels help monitor liver disease progression and treatment effectiveness. Rising levels may indicate worsening liver function or developing bile duct problems, while improving levels suggest successful treatment or resolution of hemolysis.
Track your Total Bilirubin results over time
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