What Is a Bilirubin Test?

What Is a Bilirubin Test?

A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in your blood. It’s used to help find the cause of health conditions like jaundice, anemia, and liver disease.

Typically, bilirubin levels fall somewhere between 0.3 and 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Anything above 1.2 mg/dL is usually considered high.

The condition of having high bilirubin levels is called hyperbilirubinemia. It’s usually a sign of an underlying condition.

Bilirubin is a yellowish substance in blood. It forms after red blood cells break down, and it travels through your liver, gallbladder, and digestive tract before being excreted.