Urobilinogen in Urine
Reviewed
A urobilinogen in urine test measures the amount of urobilinogen in your urine. Urobilinogen comes from bilirubin, which is made when old red blood cells break down. Normal urine contains some urobilinogen. High levels may indicate liver disease or hemolytic anemia. Low or no urobilinogen may indicate a blockage in bile flow or other liver, gallbladder, or bile duct problems. This test alone cannot diagnose a specific condition.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations. If your provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A urobilinogen in urine test alone cannot diagnose a specific condition.
- Certain medicines and supplements can affect your results.
- False positives or negatives may occur due to medications or supplements.
- Menstrual bleeding or bleeding hemorrhoids can contaminate the sample.
What to do next
If your test results aren't normal, your provider may order other tests to help diagnose liver disease or hemolytic anemia. To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.