Symptom → lab tests
Which blood tests should you get for yellow eyes?
Short answer
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes is jaundice — bilirubin above roughly 2.5–3 mg/dL — and it always has a cause worth finding. The first tests are total and direct bilirubin with a liver function panel (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GGT), a CBC for red-cell breakdown, and hepatitis testing. The pattern separates Gilbert's syndrome, hemolysis, liver disease and a blocked bile duct.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed November 2026
When should you see a clinician instead of ordering a test?
- Jaundice with abdominal pain, fever or confusion — emergency care (infected bile duct, acute hepatitis or liver failure)
- Jaundice with very dark urine and pale stool, or that is deepening over days — same-day care
- Painless jaundice with weight loss, especially over 50 — prompt imaging
- Jaundice in a newborn, or in anyone with known liver disease — do not wait for a blood test to be scheduled
Why these tests for yellow eyes (jaundice)?
The direct and indirect bilirubin split is the single most useful result: mostly indirect bilirubin with normal liver enzymes points to Gilbert's syndrome (common and harmless) or to red cells breaking down; mostly direct bilirubin points to the liver or the bile ducts. Alkaline phosphatase and GGT rising more than ALT and AST is the bile-duct pattern that leads to an ultrasound.
A CBC with reticulocyte count, LDH and haptoglobin checks for hemolysis when the indirect fraction is high. A hepatitis panel finds viral hepatitis, the commonest infectious cause of new jaundice; alcohol history, medications and supplements are the other common ones.
Yellow eyes with pale stool and dark urine is the obstructive triad; yellow skin with normal white of the eye is usually carotene from diet, not jaundice.
Which conditions do these tests help evaluate?
- Hepatitis B & C — Hepatitis B and C screening with confirmation, immunity status and liver enzymes — the CDC says every adult once.
- Fatty Liver — Liver enzymes, metabolic and lipid markers to assess fatty liver risk.
- Anemia — CBC, iron studies, ferritin, B12 and folate to find the cause of fatigue and low energy.
Which tests, and what do they cost?
Prices are cash-pay; every order adds one $6 lab processing fee. Physician authorization is included; no insurance or referral needed.
| Test or panel | Type | Price | Fasting | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Health PanelSaves $69.47 vs ordering the tests separately | Panel · 4 tests | $59.99 | No | 2–5 business days |
| Liver Function Test (Hepatic Function Panel) | Test · 7 biomarkers | $19.49 | No | 1–3 business days |
| GGT Test (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase) | Test | $19.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
| CBC with Differential Test | Test · 15 biomarkers | $17.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
| Hepatitis Panel (A, B, C) | Test · 5 biomarkers | $69.99 | No | 3–5 business days |
| Immature Red Blood Cell Test | Test | $19.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
| LDH Test (Lactate Dehydrogenase) | Test | $19.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
| Haptoglobin Test | Test | $101.99 | No | 2–4 business days |
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel | Test · 14 biomarkers | $21.49 | Yes | 1–3 business days |
Common questions
What level of bilirubin makes eyes yellow?
Around 2.5–3 mg/dL. The whites of the eyes (sclerae) show it first because the tissue binds bilirubin; skin follows at higher levels. A bilirubin of 1.2–2.5 is above most labs' range but usually not visible, and in a well person with normal enzymes it is most often Gilbert's syndrome.
Can yellow eyes be harmless?
Yes — Gilbert's syndrome, an inherited quirk of bilirubin processing in about 5–10% of people, can tint the eyes slightly during fasting, illness or stress, with every other liver test normal and no treatment needed. The blood tests are how you tell it from the causes that matter.
Which test shows if yellow eyes are from the liver or from blood cells?
The bilirubin fractions with a CBC. Red-cell breakdown (hemolysis) raises indirect bilirubin with a low haptoglobin, high LDH and high reticulocytes; liver disease and blocked ducts raise direct bilirubin with abnormal liver enzymes. The two paths lead to different specialists.
Educational content, not a diagnosis. Lab results are one input; a clinician interprets them with your history and exam.