title: Attempt to improve transcutaneous bilirubinometry: a double-blind study of Medick BiliMed versus Respironics BiliCheck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the accuracy of a new transcutaneous bilirubinometer, BiliMed (Medick SA, Paris, France) with BiliCheck (Respironics, Marietta, GA, USA), a widely available instrument, and with total serum bilirubin measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective double-blind study comparing the two devices was carried out. 686 healthy newborns needing measurement of their bilirubin were enrolled over a 4-month period. Serum and transcutaneous bilirubin measurements were taken with both devices within 15 minutes. The order of use of the instruments was randomised.
  
  
  METHODS
  Well-baby nursery ward in a university hospital, tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The linear regression analysis showed a better correlation between BiliCheck and serum bilirubin (r = 0.75) than between BiliMed and serum bilirubin (r = 0.45). BiliCheck variability (+/-2 SD of the mean bias from serum bilirubin) was within -87.2 to 63.3 micromol/l, while BiliMed variability was within -97.5 to 121.4 micromol/l. The receiver operating characteristic analysis (for serum bilirubin levels >205.2 micromol/l or >239.4 micromol/l) showed significantly higher areas under the curve for BiliCheck than those for BiliMed (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the potential practical advantages of BiliMed, its reduced diagnostic accuracy in comparison with BiliCheck does not justify its use in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Neonatologia, Departimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Policlinico Universitario "A.Gemelli", L.go Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italia. dm.deluca@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zecca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corsello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiberi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin