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Our aim was to evaluate the stability of eightcomponents of porcine bile (pH, total and ionizedcalcium, total and unconjugated bilirubin, phospholipid,cholesterol, and bile salts) over a 17-day period at three temperatures: –15, 4, and37°C. The pH and concentrations of total and ionizedcalcium, phospholipid, cholesterol, and bile salts werestable over 17 days. Total bilirubin was stable at15°C, but declined over 17 days by approximately 25% at4°C and 70% at 37°C (P < 0.003). A rapidincrease in the unconjugated bilirubin was seen withintwo days at all temperatures to between 7.5 and 12 timesthe levels at day 0 (P < 0.009). Thereafterunconjugated bilirubin at 15 and 4°C continued toincrease at a much slower rate. By contrast,unconjugated bilirubin at 37°C declined beginning onday 4 and fell to 1.33 times levels at day 0 by day 17 (P < 0.002).We conclude that bile can be stored at 15°C for 17days with stability of most components, but unconjugatedbilirubin will rise. The loss in total bilirubin is significant at 37°C.