Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Bilirubin, Total testing

• Measures yellow pigment from red blood cell breakdown to assess liver and bile health.
• Spots early liver stress before symptoms like jaundice or fatigue appear.
• Flags bile duct blockages that may cause abdominal pain or dark urine.
• Explains unexplained yellowing of skin or eyes with a measurable marker.
• Tracks hemolytic anemia where red blood cells break down too quickly.
• Guides treatment decisions for liver disease, gallstones, or inherited bilirubin disorders.
• Best interpreted with liver enzymes, complete blood count, and your symptoms.

What is Bilirubin, Total?

Total bilirubin is a yellow-orange pigment produced when your body breaks down old red blood cells. Red blood cells have a lifespan of about 120 days, and when they wear out, they're dismantled in the spleen and other tissues. The hemoglobin inside them is split apart, releasing heme, which is then converted into bilirubin.

Your liver is the cleanup crew

Once bilirubin forms, it travels through your bloodstream to the liver. There, liver cells process it by attaching it to a sugar molecule (a process called conjugation), making it water-soluble so it can be excreted into bile. Bile carries bilirubin into your intestines, where it's eventually eliminated in stool, giving it its characteristic brown color.

A window into red blood cells and liver function

Total bilirubin reflects the balance between how fast red blood cells are breaking down and how efficiently your liver is processing and clearing the pigment. It's a useful marker for assessing both red blood cell turnover and liver health.

Why is Bilirubin, Total important?

Total bilirubin measures the yellow-brown pigment produced when your body breaks down old red blood cells. It reflects how well your liver processes waste, how efficiently your bile ducts drain, and whether red blood cells are being destroyed too quickly. Normal values typically range from 0.1 to 1.2 mg/dL, with optimal levels sitting comfortably in the lower half of that range.

When bilirubin stays unusually low

Very low bilirubin is rare and usually not clinically concerning. It may appear with certain medications or nutritional states. Most healthy individuals naturally fall toward the lower end without symptoms.

When bilirubin climbs above normal

Elevated bilirubin signals that red blood cells are breaking down faster than usual, the liver is struggling to process waste, or bile flow is blocked. You may notice yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, and itching. In newborns, high bilirubin can affect brain development if untreated. Adults may experience nausea and abdominal discomfort as the liver and digestive system strain under the burden.

The bigger metabolic picture

Total bilirubin connects red blood cell turnover, liver detoxification, and bile duct health into one snapshot. Persistently high levels can point to hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones, or genetic conditions like Gilbert syndrome. Monitoring this biomarker helps catch liver disease early, assess bile duct obstruction, and guide decisions about deeper investigation into blood, liver, and digestive function.

What do my Bilirubin, Total results mean?

Low bilirubin levels

Low values usually reflect efficient clearance or reduced red blood cell turnover. Total bilirubin below the reference range is uncommon and rarely clinically significant. It may occur with certain medications or conditions that accelerate bilirubin metabolism, but isolated low bilirubin does not typically indicate disease or impaired liver function.

Optimal bilirubin levels

Being in range suggests normal red blood cell breakdown and healthy liver processing of bilirubin. The liver conjugates bilirubin and excretes it into bile without obstruction or excessive hemolysis. Optimal values typically sit in the lower half of the reference range, reflecting balanced production and clearance. Mild elevations within the normal range are common and often benign, especially in men and during fasting.

High bilirubin levels

High values usually reflect increased red blood cell breakdown, impaired liver processing, or blocked bile flow. Elevated total bilirubin can signal hemolysis, liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, or biliary obstruction from gallstones or tumors. Gilbert syndrome, a common genetic variant, causes mild intermittent elevations without liver damage. Jaundice becomes visible when bilirubin rises significantly, appearing as yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Factors that influence bilirubin

Fasting, dehydration, and physical exertion can transiently raise bilirubin. Newborns often have elevated levels due to immature liver enzyme systems. Pregnancy typically does not affect bilirubin unless liver complications arise. Fractionating bilirubin into direct and indirect forms helps clarify whether elevation stems from liver dysfunction, bile duct issues, or hemolysis.