Evaluation of a transcutaneous jaundice meter following hospital discharge in term and near-term neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate performance of the Minolta JM-103 Jaundice Meter (JM) as a predictor of total serum bilirubin (TSB) in outpatient neonates during the first week postnatal, and to estimate the number of TSB determinations that might be avoided in clinical use.


METHODS
In neonates evaluated posthospital discharge, JM and TSB results were compared using linear regression and a Bland-Altman plot, and predictive indices were calculated for various JM cutoff values. Utilizing the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, the ability of JM to predict risk zone status was determined.


RESULTS
Overall correlation between JM and TSB was 0.77 (p<0.001; n=121). When TSB was >17 mg/dl, a cutoff value for JM of 13 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 1.0, and 50% of TSB determinations would be avoided.


CONCLUSIONS
JM may facilitate outpatient management of hyperbilirubinemia by reducing the number of TSB determinations required; however, it does not provide a reliable substitute for laboratory measurement of TSB.
Engle
William D
WD
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas 75390-9063, USA.
Jackson
Gregory L
GL
Stehel
Elizabeth K
EK
Sendelbach
Dorothy M
DM
Manning
M Denise
MD
D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001663:Bilirubin