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
Specimen Requirements
Lithium Heparin Green top tube
Infants Only: 1 full Green or Yellow microtainer
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