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Test Code LAB168 Bilirubin, Total and Direct

Performing Laboratory

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center / Asante Three Rivers Medical Center / Asante Ashland Community Hospital / Asante White City Laboratory

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 ml

Billing Code

2050144, 2050151

Methodology

Diazo Reaction

Performing Department

Chemistry

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Routine – same day

ASAP – 2 hours after receipt of specimen in lab

STAT – 1 hour after receipt of specimen in lab

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82247  -  Bilirubin; total 
82248  -  Bilirubin; direct

Additional Information

Total Bilirubin-Causes of high bilirubin:  Liver disease, hepatitis, cholangitis, cirrhosis, other types of liver disease (including primary or secondary neoplasia); alcoholism (usually with high AST, GGT, MCV or some combination of these findings); biliary obstruction (intrahepatic, extrahepatic); infectious mononucleosis
(look also for increased LDH, lymphocytosis).  Gilbert’s disease (familial hyperbilirubinemia) is encountered as a moderate elevation with otherwise unremarkable chemistries.  Dubin-Johnson Syndrome, Crigler-Najar Syndrome and Fructose Intolerance. 
Anorexia or prolonged fasting:  36 hours or more may cause moderate rise.  Pernicious anemia, hemolytic anemias, erythroblastosis fetalis, other neonatal jaundice, hematoma.


Drugs:  A large number of drugs can cause jaundice by in vivo action or by chemistry methodology.  Drugs causing cholestasis and/or hepatocellular damage include diphenylhydantoin, azathioprine, phenothiazines, erythromycin, penicillin, sulfonamides, oral contraceptives, anabolic-androgenic steroids, halothane, aminosalicylic acid, isoniazid, methyldopa, indomethacin and pyrazinamide.
Direct Bilirubin-Yellow bile pigment is produced normally as a result of breakdown of aging red blood cell
hemoglobin.  Bilirubin is composed of two components – conjugated (“direct”) and unconjugated.  Increased
direct bilirubin occurs with biliary diseases, including both intrahepatic and extrahepatic lesions.  Hepatocellular causes of elevation include hepatitis, cirrhosis and advanced neoplastic states.  Increased with cholestatic drug reactions, Dubin-Johnson Syndrome and Rotor Syndrome.


LIMITATIONS:  Placental cord blood samples may yield elevated values.  Visibly hemolyzed samples
may yield spurious results.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:  Usually not necessary when the total bilirubin is normal.

Specimen Transport Temperature and Stability

Protect from light; exposure will decrease results

Centrifuge collection tube and refrigerate within 2 hours of collection
When well protected from light, bilirubin in serum or plasma is stable for 3 days at 2° to 8° C

Reasons for Rejection

Newborns only: Microtainer samples should be protected from light using either an amber colored microtainer or other light protection means. If unprotected, microtainers are only stable for 1 hour from time of draw.

 

Hemolysis

Quantity not sufficient (QNS)

Lack of Two Patient Identifiers:

         1-Patient's First & Last name 

         2-Patient's Date of Birth