TRANSCUTANEOUS BILIRUBINOMETRY IN CHINESE, MALAY AND INDIAN INFANTS

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of tran scutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) and plasma bilirubin concentrations i n full-term Chinese, Malay and Indian infants. TcB was performed with the Minolta Airshields bilirubinometer on Chinese, Malay and Indian fu llterm infants. The readings were taken on the chest (sternum) and for ehead (glabella) when capillary blood was sampled for bilirubin determ ination. Five hundred and forty TcB indices in 253 Chinese infants, 28 2 in 169 Malay infants, and 182 in 120 Indian infants were obtained ov er the sternum and forehead. A good correlation between the TcB indice s and the bilirubin concentrations was observed in Chinese, Malay and Indian infants: r = 0.78 (chest), r = 0.73 (forehead); r = 0.86 (chest ), r = 0.84 (forehead); and r = 0.84 (chest), r = 0.82 (forehead). The correlation was just as good when the combined values were evaluated together: r = 0.80 (chest), = 0.75 (forehead). In Chinese infants, cor relation at values below 250 mu mol l(-1) was significantly better tha n that at values over 250 mu mol l(-1) r = 0.80 versus r = -0.20, p < 0.00001 (chest:l, and r = 0.74 versus r = 0.07, p < 0.00001 (forehead) . However, a safer cut-off point clinically would be 200 mu mol l(-1), since only relatively few higher bilirubin values were encountered wh en TcB indices were below 200 mu mol l(-1). The same pattern was notic ed with the other two groups, and the combined group. Thus, TcB provid es a non-invasive, cost-effective screening method for significant neo natal jaundice, sparing infants and parents physical and emotional str ess, and medical and nursing personnel extra work and inconvenience.