Bilirubin, total
Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin that the liver processes. When there is a lot of it, the skin and the whites of the eyes can turn yellow.
At a glance
- Sample
- Blood
- Units
- mg/dL (US), µmol/L (Europe)
- Often looked at with
- ALT, AST
- Preparation
- No special preparation is usually needed, but this test is often done with other blood tests, and then you are asked to come fasting.
Units: mg/dL and µmol/L
US labs usually print bilirubin in mg/dL, most European labs in µmol/L. To convert, multiply mg/dL by 17.104.
µmol/L = mg/dL × 17.104 · molar mass 584.66 g/mol
This converter changes units only. It doesn’t tell you whether a number is in or out of any range: that depends on the range printed by your own lab, and on your doctor. Soma does not diagnose and is not medical advice.
Why lab ranges differ
Each lab sets its reference range for its own method and analyser, and many ranges differ by age and sex. Two labs can print different ranges for the same blood, so a result is read against the range on its own report, not against a number from another lab or a website.
Soma charts every bilirubin result against the range printed by the lab that measured it.
What can affect the result
- Fasting raises it.
- Hemolysis: red cells breaking down in the tube.
- Light: bilirubin breaks down in a sample left in the sun.
If something like this applies, mention it to the doctor who reads your results.
Questions
How do I convert bilirubin from mg/dL to µmol/L?
Multiply mg/dL by 17.104. For example, 1 mg/dL is 17.1 µmol/L.
Why does my lab’s bilirubin range differ from another lab’s?
Each lab sets its range for its own method and equipment, and many ranges differ by age and sex. That’s why a result is best read against the range printed on the same report.
How do I prepare for a bilirubin test?
No special preparation is usually needed, but this test is often done with other blood tests, and then you are asked to come fasting. Follow your lab’s instructions.
Related tests
Got a lab report with Bilirubin?
Share it to Soma: it reads every row on your phone, with no account and no upload, and puts your bilirubin on one chart with your earlier results, each against the range your lab printed.
Sources
- Bilirubin Blood Test — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Units: PubChem: Bilirubin (bilirubin), molar mass 584.66 g/mol, as the Soma app converts.
Mention of a source doesn’t mean it endorses Soma. This page explains the test; it doesn’t diagnose and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what your results mean.