Bile Salts & Pigments - Urine

Function

This test detects the presence of bile salts and bile pigments (specifically conjugated bilirubin) in the urine. In a healthy individual, bilirubin is processed by the liver and excreted into the bile ducts and then the intestines; it should not be present in the urine. Bile salts assist in the digestion of fats and are also normally absent from urine.

Why it is Ordered

It is ordered when a patient shows signs of liver dysfunction or biliary obstruction, such as jaundice (yellowing of eyes/skin), dark-colored urine, light-colored stools, or abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant. It helps clinicians distinguish between different types of jaundice. For instance, unconjugated bilirubin (from hemolysis) cannot pass into urine, but conjugated bilirubin (from liver disease or obstruction) can.

Associated Conditions

• Obstructive Jaundice: Gallstones or tumors blocking the bile duct.
• Hepatitis: Viral or toxic inflammation of the liver.
• Cirrhosis: Advanced scarring of the liver tissue.
• Cholestasis: A condition where bile flow from the liver stops or slows down.