How is biliary atresia diagnosed?
Biliary atresia is a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts. It presents very early in life and requires urgent treatment.
In newborns with biliary atresia, bile ducts are missing, incomplete, blocked or damaged. This stops the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. Bile backs up and gets trapped inside the liver.
The information on this page is for:
- Parents of babies and children with biliary atresia or suspected biliary atresia.
- Young people with biliary atresia.
- Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.
Biliary atresia is diagnosed very early in life. If your baby has any signs of the condition, they will go to hospital for tests to help confirm the diagnosis. These tests are completed over the course of a few days, so your baby may be admitted to a ward.
Tests may include:
On this page:
Liver blood tests
(Also known as liver function tests/LFTs)
A blood sample will be taken and tested in a laboratory. This is a common way to check if the liver is damaged and how well it works.
Stool and urine tests
Your baby’s stool will be checked to look for a pale, grey, white or clay colour. A sample of urine will also be taken and tested in a laboratory.
Ultrasound scans
Ultrasound scans use sound waves to make pictures of the inside of the body. An ultrasound scan has no side effects and won’t be painful for your baby. These scans are used to check and monitor:
- the size and texture of your baby’s liver
- blood flow to and from your baby’s liver
- your baby’s gallbladder and bile ducts
- the size of your baby’s spleen
Liver biopsy
A liver biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. This is a short procedure that will be done under general anaesthetic. During a liver biopsy a very thin needle goes through the tummy wall and into the liver. The needle collects a small sample of liver tissue. This is sent to a laboratory to be studied under a microscope.
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This content was last reviewed: July 2026
Our expert reviewers:
We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. Including Professor Mark Davenport, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, King’s College Hospital and Professor Deirdre Kelly, Professor of Paediatric Hepatology. And all our patient reviewers
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Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.
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