Urobilinogen in Urine

A urobilinogen in urine test measures the amount of urobilinogen in your urine (pee). Urobilinogen comes from bilirubin. Your body makes bilirubin during the normal process of breaking down old red blood cells.

Your liver uses the bilirubin to make bile, a fluid that helps you digest food in your intestines. Some bile flows through your bile ducts (small tubes) from your liver directly into your intestines. The rest is stored in your gallbladder for when you need it.

Good bacteria in your intestines breaks down the bilirubin in your bile and makes urobilinogen. Some of the urobilinogen leaves your body in your stool (poop). Some of it enters your bloodstream and returns to your liver, where it's 'recycled' into bile.

Normal urine contains some urobilinogen. High levels of urobilinogen in urine may be a sign that: Your liver can't recycle urobilinogen into bile because of a liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.; Your liver is making too much bilirubin because your body breaks down red blood cells faster than it can make them. This condition is called hemolytic anemia.; Little or no urobilinogen in urine may be a sign of: Something blocking bile from flowing into your intestines.; Other problems with your liver, gallbladder, or bile ducts.;

Why this test is done

Your health care provider may order this test as part of your routine checkup or to monitor an existing liver condition. You may also have this test if you have symptoms of liver disease or hemolytic anemia.

Liver disease/damage symptoms may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow
• Swelling and/or pain in your abdomen (belly)
• Swelling in your ankles and legs
• Dark-colored urine (pee) and/or light-colored stool (poop)
• Frequent itching

Hemolytic anemia symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations (feeling that your heart is pounding or racing)
• Headache
• Problems concentrating or thinking
• Jaundice
• Abdominal (belly) pain due to an enlarged liver or spleen

How to prepare

You don't need any special preparations. If your provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.

Sample type

Urine

Other names for this test

urine test; urine analysis; UA, chemical urinalysis