DBIL is the medical term for direct bilirubin, also called conjugated bilirubin. It is taken up by the liver cells as indirect bilirubin in the blood and then combined into direct bilirubin, which is then excreted from the bile duct into the intestine. If direct bilirubin is elevated, it often indicates biliary obstruction. After biliary obstruction, direct bilirubin cannot be excreted from the bile duct into the intestine and is then absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in an increase in direct bilirubin in the serum. If liver cancer or hepatocellular jaundice occurs, direct bilirubin is also likely to be elevated. This is because this is when the liver becomes diseased, resulting in a decrease in the ability of liver cells to convert indirect bilirubin, but at the same time blocking the capillary bile ducts. Therefore, both direct and indirect bilirubin may be increased, so it is important to determine the cause of the increase in direct bilirubin based on other tests.