Testmedica Home Scan Liver Health Screen, Two Tests

This test checks for bilirubin in the urine. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of bile, which is produced in the liver and normally stored in the gall bladder. It is then excreted into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fats.

However, in certain disease processes such as hepatitis, cirrhoses of the liver, liver cancer, and in conditions where the bile ducts become blocked, the bile can be absorbed into the blood stream, converted to bilirubin, and excreted into the urine. Therefore, the bilirubin test is generally considered a check on the liver.Increased urinary bilirubin may indicate:

- Biliary strictures cirrhosis gallstones in the biliary tract
- Hepatitis with associated biliary obstruction
- Surgical trauma affecting the biliary tract
- Tumors of the liver or gall bladder