Bilirubin - blood

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Total bilirubin - blood; Unconjugated bilirubin - blood; Indirect bilirubin - blood; Conjugated bilirubin - blood; Direct bilirubin - blood

It is normal to have some bilirubin in your blood. Normal levels are:

• Direct (also called conjugated) bilirubin: 0 to 0.3 mg/dL
• Total bilirubin: 0.3 to 1.9 mg/dL

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

In newborns, bilirubin levels are higher for the first few days of life. Your child's doctor must consider the following when deciding whether your baby's bilirubin levels are too high:

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• How fast the level has been rising
• Whether the baby was born early
• How old the baby is

Jaundice can also occur when more red blood cells than normal are broken down. This can be caused by:

• Erythroblastosis fetalis
• Hemolytic anemia
• Transfusion reaction

The following liver problems may also cause jaundice or high bilirubin levels:

• Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
• Hepatitis
• Gilbert's disease

The following problems with gallbladder or bile ducts may cause higher bilirubin levels:

• Biliary stricture
• Cancer of the pancreas or gallbladder
• Gallstones

Review Date: 02/20/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).