Bilirubin

Alternative names:

conjugated bilirubin; direct bilirubin; indirect bilirubin; total bilirubin; unconjugated bilirubin

What the risks are:

• excessive bleeding
• fainting or feeling lightheaded
• hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Interfering factors:

• hemolysis of blood
• lipids in the blood
• bilirubin is light-sensitive; it decomposes in light

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.