Neonatal Bilirubin, Total and Direct

Tube Type

Includes Total, Direct and Calculated Indirect Bilirubin.

Reference Range	Normal:	Bilirubin, Direct (mg/dL)
Test ID	LAB168
EPIC Order	NEONATAL BILIRUBIN, TOTAL & DIRECT
CPT Code(s)	82248, 82247
Group/Individual Test	Group
Laboratory	Core
Tube Station	Routine 30; STAT 888
Specimen	Routine:	1 ml blood/green lithium heparin gel tube/gold SST tube, or red plain tube also acceptable
Specimen	Micro:	200 µl blood/Mint green bullet; serum separator bullet/gold top/red top
Stability	Unspun:	≤4 hours
	Spun/Separated, Room Temp:	2 hours
	Spun/Separated, Refrigerated:	5 days
	Frozen:	3 months
Availability	Routine:	24 hrs/day
Availability	STAT:	YES
Turnaround Time	STAT 1 hr., Routine 2 hrs.
		Age:	Reference Range (mg/dL)
		0-14 days	≤0.6
		>14 days	≤0.3

		Bilirubin, Total (mg/dL)
		Age:	Reference Range (mg/dL)
		0-1 days	≤5.0
		1-2 days	≤11.0
		2-3 days	≤13.0
		3-6 days	Undefined
		6 days - Adult	0.3-1.2
	Critical:	Bilirubin, Total (mg/dL)
		Age	Critical
		≤1 Year	>15.0
Comments	Reference ranges effective 7/13/2021 Protect from Light Order on Infants <15 days old or in continuation of following patients' bilirubin from birth.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 12, 2026

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514