If your doctor has asked you to get a urobilinogen test and you are wondering why, our article will answer you.
What is urobilinogen test?
Urobilinogen test is done to measure measure the urobilinogen amount in the urine sample.
What is urobilinogen?
To break down the red blood cells, bilirubin is formed in the liver and excreted in bile. It is a yellow-orange pigment. Urobilinogen is a by-product formed of bilirubin reduction and is formed by the action of bacteria on bilirubin in the stomach is excreted out of the body through stool or urine. Normally urine contains some amount of urobilinogen, but too much or no urobilinogen in urine is an indication that your liver is not working correctly. Too much level of urobilinogen may indicate diseases of Liver such as cirrhosis or hepatitis.
Urobilinogen Urine Test is also known as Urobilinogen Random Urine
Why urobilinogen test performed?
Urobilinogen test is used to evaluate the liver functions. A health care provider suggests this test if the patient is suffering from any existing liver disorder or if the patient shows signs and symptoms of liver damage for example jaundice (yellowing of skin, tongue or eyes), itchy skin dark coloured urine, nausea, vomiting, swelling and pain in the abdomen. The test is also performed as a part of routine urinalysis or if there is a family history of liver diseases.
Patients with a family history of liver disease are required to get urobilinogen test every 6 months to 1 year. Patients with liver disorders are needed to get this test done regularly as instructed by their doctor.
Preparation of the test
If you are on any medication, you need to inform this to your doctor before having urobilinogen test. Also, tell your doctor if you have an allergy or have any underlying disease condition. Although no specific preparation is required, and this test is conducted along with other blood test, or urine test. You do not even need to fast for several hours before the test. Still, your doctor may give you specific instructions keeping in mind your condition. Do follow the instruction given by your doctor.
What is the normal value of urobilinogen in urine?
| Type | Gender | Age Group | value |
| Urobilinogen | UNISEX | All age group | 0.2 – 1mg/dl |
What are the limitations of urobilinogen test?
Insufficient volume limits the extent of procedures. Metabolite Pyridium may produce colour interference and interfere with the dipstick test. High intake of vitamin C may lead to a false-negative nitrite test or underestimate glycosuria. Due to low osmolality or lack of refrigeration and alkalinity survival of white blood cells decrease.
Procedure Of urobilinogen Test
- Specimen required – urine (random)
- Volume – 10 ml
- Container – Routine urine analysis container, sterile urine cup, BD urine transport tube.
Your technician will provide you with the container and will guide you on how to collect the sample. The instruction are as follows:
- Clean your hand
- Females need to clean labia or vagina from front to back, and males need to clean the tip of the penis with a cleansing pad
- Urinate and collect the sample in the sterile container.
- You need to collect at least 1-2 ounces of urine
- Once done summit the sample to the technician
Understanding the result of urobilinogen test
No medical intervention is required if the result of test falls in the normal range.
If the result shows that urobilinogen is little to absent, this may indicate issues with the functioning of the liver as it means that bilirubin is not being excreted into the GIT. Thus, possibly there is a blockage in the flow of blood of the liver, there is partial or complete obstruction of bile ducts, or there may be some issues with liver function. The symptoms will be yellow eyes, skin or nail itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, swelling, and pain in the abdomen.
High level of urobilinogen in urine is an indication of many liver diseases such as liver damage, hepatitis, haemolytic anaemia, liver damage due to certain medications, or cirrhosis.
In both the cases whether, you have a high or low level of urobilinogen consult your doctor for further diagnostic tests, treatment and instruction of lifestyle modification.