Transcutaneous estimation of bilirubin concentration is a convenient, non-invasive way of monitoring hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. Bental et al correlated the transcutaneous value to serum total bilirubin concentrations from simultaneous specimens. The authors are from Laniado Hospital, Israel Institute of Technology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Patient selection: neonate with hyperbilirubinemia
Transcutaneous bilirubin analyzer: Jaundice Meter (Konica Minolta/Draeger Medical JM-103)
Serum total bilirubin analyzer: Apel BR-501, Saitama, Japan
Factors that may affect performance of the transcutaneous measurement:
(1) gestational age at birth
(2) ethnic background (mostly related to skin color)
(3) location sampled
(4) device
serum total bilirbuin in mg/dL =
= (0.933 * (transcutaneous bilirubin in mg/dL) + 1.707
This can be rewritten:
transcutaneous bilirubin in mg/dL =
= ((serum total bilirubin) - 1.707) / 0.933 =
= (1.072 * (serum total bilirubin)) - 1.829
Correlating the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement with serum samples collected simultaneously should improve performance. The same device should be used and placed at the same site.
