Bile Acids, Total

Test Code

BILAC

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum

Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Instructions

Fasting (8 hours minimum)

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

7 days refrigerated

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross icterus, Gross hemolysis

Report Available

2-5 days

Reference Range

< or =10 mcmol/L

Clinical Significance

The efficiency of the hepatic clearance of bile acids from portal blood maintains serum concentrations at low levels in normal persons. An elevated fasting level, due to impaired hepatic clearance, is a sensitive indicator of liver disease. Following meals, serum bile acid levels have been shown to increase only slightly in normal persons, but markedly in patients with various liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholestasis, portal-vein thrombosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, cholangitis, Wilson's disease, and hemochromatosis. No increase in bile acids will be noted in patients with intestinal malabsorption. Metabolic hepatic disorders involving organic anions (eg, Gilbert's disease, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, and Dubin-Johnson syndrome) do not cause abnormal serum bile acid concentrations.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.