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Table of Contents

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  • Urine For Bile pigments
        • What sample of urine is needed for the Bile pigments?
        • What are the indications of urine for bile pigments?
        • What are the precautions for bile pigments?
        • How will you discuss the pathophysiology of the bile and bile pigments?
        • How will you discuss the biosynthesis of Bile acids and Bile salts?
        • How Bilirubin in the urine is excreted?
        • How will you detect Bile salt and bilirubin?
        • How will you perform the Sulfur granule test for bile salts:?
        • What is normal urine Bile pigments?
        • What are the causes of increased urine urobilinogen?
        • What are the causes for absent urine urobilinogen?

Urine For Bile pigments

What sample of urine is needed for the Bile pigments?

  1. Bile salt can be checked on random urine.
  2. Bile pigmetns also include bilirubin and biliverdin.

What are the indications of urine for bile pigments?

  1. This is because bile pigments in the urine indicate liver dysfunction.
  2. The presence of bile pigments in the urine helps to diagnose the increased production of bilirubin.

What are the precautions for bile pigments?

  1. There may be a false positive reagent strip.
  2. In case of increased pH.
  3. Some drugs, like sulfonamides, procaine, and 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid, may interfere with the result.

How will you discuss the pathophysiology of the bile and bile pigments?

  1. Bile acid and bile salts are used as synonyms.
  2. Bile is a fluid synthesized by the liver and consists of the following:
    1. Conjugated bile salts.
    2. Bilirubin diglucuronide.
    3. Cholesterol.
    4. Phospholipids.
    5. Electrolytes.
    6. Water.
  3. Bile is alkaline due to the presence of bicarbonate.
  4. The bile color is golden-brown to greenish-yellow and has a bitter taste.
Urine For Bile pigments: Bile acids and bile salt metabolism

Urine For Bile pigments: Bile acids and bile salt metabolism

How will you discuss the biosynthesis of Bile acids and Bile salts?

  1. Bile acids are synthesized in the hepatocytes from cholesterol. These are excreted into the bile and then pass into the duodenum.
    1. The primary bile acids are:
      1. Cholic acid.
      2. Chenodeoxycholic acid.
    2. These primary bile acids pass into the duodenum (intestine), and the bacterial action converts to secondary bile acids.
    3. Secondary bile acids are:
      1. Deoxycholic acid.
      2. Lithocholic acid.
    4. The bile acid can conjugate with glycine and taurine and form bile salts.
Urine For Bile pigments: Bile salt (bile acids) formation and functions

Urine For Bile pigments: Bile salt (bile acids) formation and functions

  1. Bile salts help stimulate the bile flow and are a potent antibacterial.
Urine For Bile pigments: Bile salt cycle

Urine For Bile pigments: Bile salt cycle

  1. The primary bile pigments due to catabolism of the hemoglobin are:
    1. Bilirubin. is orange or yellow in color.
    2. Biliverdin is green in color.
    3. Urobilinogen (Urobilin).
  2. The leading site of the formation of bile pigments is the liver.
  3. Ultimately, these leave the body in feces and a small amount in the urine.
  4. Human bile contains:
    1. Cholate conjugate = 38%.
    2. Chenodeoxycholate conjugate = 34%.
    3. Deoxycholate conjugate = 28%.
    4. Lithocholate = 1 to 2%.
  5. The hepatic bile contains 5% to 15% of the solids; the major components are bile acids.

How Bilirubin in the urine is excreted?

  1. Normally, conjugated bilirubin in the urine is not detected.
  2. Bilirubin in the urine appears in:
    1. Biliary tract obstruction is like extrahepatic obstruction of the common bile duct.
    2. Biliary tract obstruction may be intrahepatic, like cholestatic liver cell injury in active cirrhosis and viral hepatitis.

How is Urobilinogen in the urine excreted?

  1. Urobilinogen is produced from conjugated bilirubin by the metabolic activity of the bacteria in the intestine, followed by absorption into the blood circulation.

How will you detect Bile salt and bilirubin?

  1. Bile pigments (Bilirubin) give the urine a greenish-yellow, yellow, or brown color.
  2. The Fouchet test:
    1. It detects bile pigments (Bilirubin).
  3. Sulfur granules test:
    1. It detects bile salts.

 How will you perform Fouchet’s test?

  1. It will detect the bilirubin in the urine.
  2. Reagents are:
    1. Barium chloride 10%.
    2. Fouchet’s reagents consist of:
      1. Trichloracetic acid = 25 grams.
      2. Ferric chloride (FeCl3) 10% = 10 mL
      3. Distle water = 100 mL
  3. The procedure of Fouchet’s test:
    1. Take 5 ml of the urine; if the urine is alkaline, then add one to 2 drops of glacial acetic acid (concentrated).
    2. Take 5 mL of urine and add barium chloride (BaCl2 10%) 2.5 mL.
    3. Mix well.
    4. The sample will become cloudy.
    5. Filter or centrifuge to obtain the precipitate, which contains bilirubin.
      1. A precipitate of sulfates appears to which bilirubin is bound (barium-sulfate-bilirubin complex).
    6. To the filtrate on the paper (precipitate), add one drop of Fouchet’s reagent (Ferric chloride).
    7. When ferric chloride is added to urine in trichloroacetic acid, it oxidizes bilirubin to green color biliverdin.
    8. Immediately, a blue-green color develops, indicating a positive for bilirubin.
Fouchet's modified reaction

Fouchet’s modified reaction

Procedure for Fouchet's reaction in urine

Procedure for Fouchet’s reaction in urine:

Test result Positive for bile contents
  • There is an immediate blue-green color around the precipitate
  • Positive for bilirubinin
  • There is no blue-green color
  • Negative for bilirubinin

How will you perform the Foam test for bilirubin?

Urine is kept in a small vial and vigorously shaken. The bile pigments will stain the resulting foam.

  1. There is yellowish foam in the case of urine bilirubin.
  2. In normal urine, the foam will be white.

How will you perform the Sulfur granule test for bile salts:?

  1. Carefully sprinkle the sulfur granules over the surface of the urine.
  2. Also, it can run water as the control.
  3. In the case of bile salts, sulfur will settle in the bottom.
  4. In the case of negative urine, sulfur granules will remain on the surface.
Urine bile salt test

Urine bile salt test

What is normal urine Bile pigments?

  • Normally, bile pigments and bile salt are absent in normal urine.

What are the causes of increased urine urobilinogen?

  1. It is increased in hemolytic anemia with absent urine bilirubin.
  2. In case of hemorrhage into the tissue, like pulmonary infarction and severe bruises.
  3. In case of severe hepatic cell damage in acute viral hepatitis, drugs and toxins.
  4. In patients with cholangitis.

What are the causes for absent urine urobilinogen?

  • When there is complete biliary obstruction and stool is pale or clay-colored.

Questions and answers:

Question 1: What is the difference between bile acid and bile salts?
Show answer
Bile acid and bile salts are used as synonyms.
Question 2: What is the end result of Fouchet's reaction?
Show answer
It is advised to detect bile contents (bilirubin).

Possible References Used
Go Back to Lab Tests

Comments

Tennyson Reply
November 21, 2020

In my urine report bili pigment level negative and also acetone level is negative
So have any problem with my urine

Dr. Riaz Reply
November 21, 2020

I don’t think so.

Suleiman Reply
September 18, 2024

Thanks you really appreciated for the explanation.

Dr. Riaz Reply
September 18, 2024

Welcome.

Nivetha Reply
September 23, 2021

It’s very helpful to read for me…thank u❤️

Dr. Riaz Reply
September 24, 2021

Thanks.

Anurag singh Reply
October 17, 2021

Sir my kft report show 9 uric level and all test report is normal in liver bilrubin direct and sgpt increse slightly means 4 points from normal range and in urinalysis my uribilinogen is postive normal written .but still my urine is frothy why

Dr. Riaz Reply
October 18, 2021

Your uric acid level is too high, you need treatment for hyperuricemia. But your LFT (liver function test) is not clear to me.

Rajesh Reply
April 18, 2022

Sir, Bile salts and bi le pigment are present in my report.. What does that mean?

Dr. Riaz Reply
April 18, 2022

It indicates biliary tract obstruction. For the layman, it suggests liver disease. Please get an ultrasound to find the cause of the obstruction.

B PAVAN KUMAR DMLT Reply
October 18, 2022

Very Helpful Sir

Dr. Riaz Reply
October 18, 2022

Thanks.

Neha Reply
November 11, 2022

Dr.Riaz
Information is so helpful…
May allah bless you ameen

Dr. Riaz Reply
November 11, 2022

Thanks.

Saleem Reply
December 13, 2022

Hi sir,

In my urine report

Bile salt -present
Bile pigment – positive

I had also abdomen ULtra sound .. that all normal.. my question is when I search Internet its showing positive bile pigment cause liver dysfunction. Is that true?

Dr. Riaz Reply
December 14, 2022

Normally bile salts and bile pigments are absent. Their presence indicates liver dysfunction. Please consult a hepatologist to find out the cause.

Rali Reply
March 24, 2023

Thnks

Dr. Riaz Reply
March 24, 2023

You are welcome.

Laila Reply
June 14, 2023

Thank u sir I’m a pharmacy student and recently we are discussing all that urea cycle and urine excretion processes and definitely this article clear my 99% concepts more☺️
I have a question if the appearance of urine is turbid what does that mean?
And if ketones and glucose is nill in urinary report so it’s okay like their excretion is not allowed in urine like this question is for general concept .

Dr. Riaz Reply
June 14, 2023

Ketones and glucose should be negative when positive indicate pathology. Turbid urine may be due to some crystalluria or infection.

Priyanka Reply
July 16, 2023

During the pregnancy if Bile pigment report is negative. can we ignore this or its serious problem, because so much itching in hand and leg.

Dr. Riaz Reply
July 17, 2023

Bile salts negative is good for you. Please consult dermatologist and your gynecologist for itching of hand and leg.

DR KHALID Reply
August 26, 2023

very useful information Sir
i hope you will provide more informations regarding lab tests

Dr Khalid DUHS Karachi

Dr. Riaz Reply
August 26, 2023

Thanks.

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