Effective March 30, 2026, all Shared Health Biochemistry Laboratories will discontinue offering dipstick Urine Bilirubin and Urobilinogen as reportable tests from urinalysis dipstick panel. When ordering urinalysis, the following analytes will continue to be reported: Glucose, Ketones, Specific Gravity, Blood, pH, Protein, Nitrite and Leukocytes.

Background:

• Urine bilirubin and urobilinogen dipstick tests have poor analytical sensitivity and specificity. There is a high proportion of false negative results due to instability of bilirubin and urobilinogen to light and temperature, and false positive results encountered due to urine color.
• Plasma test for total bilirubin has superior sensitivity and better analyte stability.

References:

1. Foley KF, Wasserman J: Are unexpected positive dipstick urine bilirubin results clinically significant? A retrospective review. Laboratory Medicine 2014; 45: 59.
2. Binder L, Smith D, Kupka T and al.: Failure of prediction of liver function test abnormalities with the urine urobilinogen and urine bilirubin assays. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 1989; 113: 73.

Contact Information:

Hana Klassen Vakili, DABCC, FCACB, Clinical Biochemist
Laurel Thorlacius FCACB, Medical Director, Clinical Biochemistry

Memo – Printable version

Submitted by: Tamara Burnham, Collaborative Practice Lead