ABSTRACT
Transcutaneous bilirubinometry [TCB] provides a noninvasive, cost effective screening method for significant neonatal jaundice. The aim of this study is to comment on the usefulness of the jaundice meter as a non invasive screening device for hyperbilirubinemia in neonatal intensive care units. The study included 40 neonates suspected on clinical grounds to have neonatal jaundice, admitted to the unit for either prematurity or other clinical conditions. Our results showed a correlation coefficient between total serum bilirubin and the mean of transcutaneous bilirubinometry of the forehead and sternum at 24 and 48 hours of appearance of jaundice to be 0.629 and 0.823 respectively with a significant P value of [0.07. Also, the correlation coefficient between assayed total serum bilirubin level and expectant serum bilirubin level at 24 and 48 hrs. of appearance of jaundice was 0.599 and 0.863 respectively with a significant P value of <0.01
Conclusion: transcutaneous bilirubinometry is a well-established screening method for neonatal jaundice, yet it has limitations of use due to the sensitivity of the method for defecting variation in melanin content of the skin. Also TCB monitoring should not be used to follow babies who have undergone exchange transfusions nor solely relied up to follow infants undergoing phototherapy