Bilirubin Testing Information: Elevated Bilirubin, Bilirubin Levels and High Bilirubin Causes

Results. The results of a bilirubin test can be indicated in three different ways. Total bilirubin levels are a synthesis of both direct and indirect bilirubin levels, and often times the results will show both a total bilirubin and a direct bilirubin value. Direct bilirubin, is the measurement of the bilirubin when it arrives in the liver and is chemically converted right before it travels to the intestines and is excreted. Indirect Bilirubin is the bilirubin that results from the disintegration of red blood cells prior to its arrival in the liver. Having these two separate values to examine can help narrow down the origination of the issue, whether it is a problem with the liver synthesizing the bilirubin or if the problem lies in the elevated destruction of red blood cells.