Quick answer
The Serum Bilirubin Test costs ₹350 at Live Line Health Care. Measures total, direct and indirect bilirubin to evaluate jaundice and track whether it is settling, without repeating a full liver panel each time. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready the same day.
Also known as: Bilirubin, S. Bilirubin, Sr Bilirubin, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Indirect Bilirubin, Jaundice Blood
What is the Bilirubin Test?
The Serum Bilirubin test measures bilirubin, the yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down. It first travels in the blood in an indirect (unconjugated) form. The liver then changes it to a direct (conjugated) form and passes it out with bile. If too much is made, or the liver or bile ducts cannot clear it, the pigment builds up and turns the eyes and skin yellow. This is jaundice, which usually becomes visible above about 2–3 mg/dL.
The value of this test lies in the split between the two forms, since each points to a different part of the journey. A rise in indirect bilirubin suggests red cells are breaking down too quickly or a harmless inherited condition called Gilbert syndrome, while a rise in direct bilirubin suggests a liver or bile duct problem. An LFT includes these same three values with enzymes and proteins, and remains the better first test for jaundice. This test suits repeat checks while jaundice is settling, when enzyme levels are not needed each time. Babies’ bilirubin is read on separate charts based on their age in hours.
What it measures: Total bilirubin and its direct (conjugated) and indirect (unconjugated) parts in the blood.
Parameters included (3)
- Total Bilirubin
- Direct (Conjugated) Bilirubin
- Indirect (Unconjugated) Bilirubin
Why is this test done?
- Following jaundice after a first LFT to see whether it is settling
- Separating red cell breakdown from liver or bile duct problems
- Looking into suspected Gilbert syndrome after a long fast or illness
- Monitoring gallstone or bile duct problems after treatment
- Checking jaundice in newborn babies when a doctor advises it
When should you get tested?
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Dark yellow or tea-coloured urine
- Pale, clay-coloured stools
- Itching all over the body
- Pain in the upper right abdomen after meals
- Tiredness with pale skin, which can mean red cells are breaking down
How to prepare for the Bilirubin Test
- 1No fasting is needed. Eat normally, because a long fast can raise bilirubin in people with Gilbert syndrome.
- 2Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test.
- 3Tell staff about your medicines, especially anti-TB tablets such as rifampicin, which can affect bilirubin.
- 4Note the date your yellow colour began and bring previous reports, so your doctor can follow the trend.
Bilirubin Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Total bilirubin | 0.3–1.2 mg/dL |
| Direct bilirubin | 0–0.3 mg/dL |
| Indirect bilirubin | 0.2–0.9 mg/dL |
Indirect bilirubin is calculated as total minus direct. Newborn values are judged on age-based charts, and these adult ranges do not apply to them. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A mainly indirect rise with normal liver enzymes often means Gilbert syndrome or red cell breakdown (haemolysis). Your doctor can separate these with a CBC and reticulocyte count.
- A mainly direct rise suggests hepatitis, injury from a medicine or a blocked bile duct, for example from a gallstone. Dark urine and pale stools support this, and an ultrasound is often the next step.
- Bilirubin falls slowly, so it can stay raised for days to weeks after the cause has started to improve.
- Jaundice with fever and abdominal pain, confusion, vomiting blood or black stools needs emergency care, not a repeat test.
Book the Bilirubin Test in your city
Same price at all 45 centres. Choose your city for local centres and timings.
Telangana
Bilirubin Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Bilirubin Test?
The Serum Bilirubin Test costs ₹350 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What is the difference between direct and indirect bilirubin?
Indirect bilirubin is the form made when red cells break down, before the liver processes it. Direct bilirubin is the form after the liver has prepared it for removal through bile. A rise in indirect points towards red cells or Gilbert syndrome, and a rise in direct points towards the liver or bile ducts.
What is Gilbert syndrome?
It is a common, harmless inherited condition in which the liver handles bilirubin more slowly. Indirect bilirubin rises slightly, especially with fasting, illness, stress or lack of sleep, and the eyes may look faintly yellow. Liver enzymes stay normal, no treatment is usually needed, and it does not damage the liver.
What bilirubin level is dangerous in adults?
There is no single dangerous figure in adults, because the cause matters more than the number. Levels high enough to cause clear jaundice always need a doctor’s review. Jaundice with fever, confusion, abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen or bleeding needs emergency care, whatever the exact value on the report.
How long does it take for bilirubin to come down?
It depends on the cause. In viral hepatitis, jaundice commonly settles over a few weeks. Part of the bilirubin binds to albumin in the blood and clears slowly, so values can stay raised after you start feeling better. Your doctor will advise how often to repeat the test.
Is this test different from an LFT for jaundice?
An LFT contains bilirubin plus enzymes and proteins that help find the cause, so it is the better first test. This bilirubin test measures only the three bilirubin values. It is useful for repeat checks once the cause is known and your doctor only needs to see whether jaundice is clearing.
What is a normal bilirubin level in a newborn?
There is no single normal figure for babies. Bilirubin normally rises over the first few days, and doctors plot it on charts using the baby’s age in hours, birth weight and risk factors. Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life, or a very sleepy baby not feeding well, needs urgent medical care.
Where can I get the Bilirubin Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.