Evaluation of the Accuracy of Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry on the Forehead, Sternum, Interscapular Region, Ear Cartilage, and Wrist and Comparison with Total Serum Bilirubin in Newborns with GA Above 30 W in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background:Prompt and precise bilirubin assessment is critical for the appropriate intervention in neonatal jaundice management. Various healthcare settings have adopted transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices for this purpose. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between TcB readings obtained from five distinct body regions and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels.Materials and Methods:The research encompassed 202 neonates exhibiting clinical signs of jaundice, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and general wards of Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan. The cohort included neonates of both genders with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more. Measurements of TcB were performed using the MBJ20 jaundice detector probe on the forehead, sternum, auricle, wrist, and interscapular region, and these were then compared with the TSB levels.Results:The study included a balanced sample of 202 newborns, with an equal distribution between males and females. The mean gestational age was 34.19 +/- 2.63 weeks; the average birth weight was 2083 +/- 692.18 grams, and the TSB level was 9.95 +/- 2.68 mg/dl. The findings revealed a robust, direct, and meaningful correlation between the TcB and TSB levels across all the sites examined. Notably, the correlation was statistically more pronounced at the sternum and forehead.Conclusion:The study confirms that noninvasive TcB assessment at two specific sites-the sternum and forehead-using the MBJ20 bilirubinometer, provides significant congruence with the TSB levels determined by clinical laboratory techniques in both term and preterm neonates. Measurements at the sternum are marginally more precise than those at the forehead.