Bilirubin Total & Direct Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Bilirubin is the yellow-orange pigment produced when old red blood cells are broken down and their haemoglobin is recycled by the liver. This test reports two figures: total bilirubin and the direct (conjugated) fraction, with the indirect (unconjugated) portion calculated by subtraction. The split matters because it tells your doctor where the problem lies. A raised indirect bilirubin points towards excessive red-cell breakdown (haemolysis), a newborn's immature liver, or the harmless inherited Gilbert's syndrome that many people carry without knowing. A raised direct bilirubin instead suggests the liver is inflamed or that bile cannot drain properly, as happens with hepatitis, gallstones blocking the bile duct, or a pancreatic obstruction. Doctors most commonly request it when a patient looks jaundiced, with yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, dark tea-coloured urine, pale stools, itching, or right-upper-abdomen discomfort. In Kathmandu it is a frequent test during outbreaks of hepatitis A and E, which spread readily through contaminated water and food, and it is routinely checked in newborns to decide whether jaundice needs phototherapy. The result is rarely read alone; it is interpreted alongside liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), albumin, and a complete blood count to build a full picture. A mildly elevated value is often benign, but a clearly raised level deserves prompt follow-up so the underlying cause can be identified and treated early.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

No special fasting is needed, though your doctor may combine this with a liver panel that requires fasting. Avoid strenuous exercise beforehand, and let us protect the sample from light, as bilirubin breaks down on exposure.

Turnaround time

Reports for Bilirubin Total & Direct are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other biochemistry tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Bilirubin Total & Direct or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.