Information on bilirubin

Information on bilirubin

Bilirubin a brownish yellow substance in bile is produced when the liver breaks down the RBC's. It is then excreted from the body in feces. Two form of bilirubin circulates in the body – direct and indirect.


Indirect bilirubin is insoluble in water and is changed to direct bilirubin in the liver. Where as direct bilirubin is soluble in water and is synthesized from indirect bilirubin. The level of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin are measured by drawing a blood sample and the indirect bilirubin values are derived from the total and direct bilirubin measurements.


The normal range for total bilirubin is 0.3-1.0 m g/dl or 5.1-17.0 mmol/l, direct bilirubin is 0.1-0.3 mg/dl or 1.0-5.1 mmol/l, indirect bilirubin is 0.2-.07 mg/dl or 3.4-11.9 mmol/l. You have not mentioned if the result is in mg/dl or mmol/l, if in mmol/l then the values seem normal, but if the result is in mg/dl then the values are high. When the levels of bilirubin are high then the white of the eyes and skin appear yellowish – Jaundice.