Jaundice Tests & Diagnosis

Jaundice is a medical condition that usually indicates some type of liver malfunction. Mild jaundice is common in infants for a few days after birth. It can also occur in older children and adults as a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

Physical Signs

• Jaundice causes a person's skin or eyes to appear yellow due to too much bilirubin (a substance that forms as red blood cells break down) in the blood.

Diagnosis

• Since many babies are born with jaundice, doctors can often make a diagnosis based on the physical signs along with reviewing the birthing records and the mother's medical history. In adults, however, there are a few different tests that are done.

Liver Biopsy

• Since jaundice is often a sign of liver disease or liver failure, doctors will often perform a liver biopsy. A liver biopsy allows doctors to remove pieces of liver tissue from the patient so that it can be sent out for further testing.

Complete Blood Count

• A complete blood count can be used to test the various levels of blood cells in the blood. Test results with high bilirubin levels can indicate jaundice.

Abdominal Ultrasound

• Abdominal ultrasounds are often given to patients with jaundice symptoms to determine if the jaundice is being caused by a physical blockage. If no blockage is found, doctors can move on to test for other causes such as an infection.