Comparison between Different Methods for Determination of Bile Pigments in Icteric Serum Samples

Abstract

Total, unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin were determined in 120 serum samples from patients with hepatic and/or posthepatic hyperbilirubinaemia, as well as in 35 samples from patients with neonatal icterus. Several methods in common use were compared with some newly developed methods for determination of the above-mentioned bilirubin fractions. Interesting differences between the results were noted when the methods were applied on serum samples with mainly conjugated bilirubin, whereas these differences were not present when conjugated bilirubin (purified according to Lucassen) dissolved in normal serum was analysed.

Key Words:

• Bilirubin
• hyperbilirubinaemia
• methodology