What is a high total bilirubin count?

Normal results for a bilirubin test are 0.1 to 1 milligram per deciliter of total bilirubin and 0 to 0.3 milligrams per deciliter of direct bilirubin, according to Mayo Clinic. Doctors consider anything higher to be elevated levels of bilirubin.

Bilirubin is a waste product that occurs during the normal breakdown of red blood cells, explains Mayo Clinic. It passes through the liver and eventually out of the body in excrement. If bilirubin levels are high, they may indicate different types of liver problems. High levels of bilirubin in the body can cause yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, a condition known as jaundice.