title: Comparison of two transcutaneous bilirubinometers--Minolta AirShields Jaundice Meter JM103 and Spectrx Bilicheck--in Thai neonates.
abstract: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) has been reported to have a high correlation with serum bilirubin. The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the accuracy of two transcutaneous bilirubinometer (Minolto AirShields Jaundice Meter, JM103 (JM) and SpectRx, Bilicheck (BC) in estimating total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels; and (2) to assess the predictive ability of transcutaneous bilirubin in relation to specific selected TSB levels. A total of 154 measurements of TcB, using JM and BC, and TSB were recruited from 134 term and near-term infants. Postnatal ages ranged from 19 to 160 hours (x = 64.7, SD = 25.6). TSB levels ranged from 4.5 to 17.5 mg/dl (x = 10.4, SD = 2.5). The correlation coefficients between TcB (JM and BC) and TSB measurements were significant and similar (r 0.80 and 0.82, respectively). The errors of distribution were, for TSB and TcB-JM, the mean difference of 0.7 mg/dl (SD 1.6 mg/dl and 95% confidence interval of the mean (CI) 0.4 and 1.0]; and, for TSB and TcB-BC, the mean difference of -0.6 mg/dl (SD 1.5 mg/dl and 95% CI -0.4 and -0.8). TcB-JM had a tendency to underestimate TSB levels, and TcB-BC had a tendency to overestimate TSB levels. The sensitivity of BC was higher, but specificity was lower, than JM in corresponding to different TSB levels, except at a TSB level of 15 mg/dl when both instruments yielded 100% sensitivity. The accuracy of JM in predicting TSB was higher than BC at all TSB levels. Operating the JM was simple and uncomplicated. It would be suitable for clinical use when a number of personnel perform the measurement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. s-sanpavat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Suwimol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanpavat
authors.forename: Issarang
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nuchprayoon
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue; D016683:Supine Position; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin