Testing for bilirubin
Blood samples are typically obtained in order to measure bilirubin levels.
Blood is often drawn from the heel of infants. Doctors may occasionally use umbilical cord blood in certain circumstances.
Blood is typically drawn from one arm in adults. Before getting a blood test, you might need to fast.
Conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin will be the two forms of bilirubin that are tested. The ratio between these two forms of bilirubin can be used to identify the root cause of elevated bilirubin levels.
Bilirubin levels may sometimes be checked using a urine sample. Any bilirubin identified in a urine sample is a sign of an underlying disease because bilirubin shouldn’t be present in urine.