Transcutaneous measurement of hyperbilirubinaemia: comparison of the Minolta jaundice meter and the Ingram icterometer

The effectiveness of two different non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubin me asurement devices was compared with serum bilirubin levels in 96 healthy ne wborns. Transcutaneous measurements were obtained with the Minolta Air Shie lds jaundice meter and the Ingram icterometer and serum bilirubin levels we re determined by a direct spectrophotometric method (Bilitron 444). A linea r correlation existed between serum bilirubin values and the readings on bo th the Minolta jaundice meter (r= 0.83) and the Ingram icterometer (r = 0.7 8). The Kappa coefficient was 0.66. The sensitivity, specificity and positi ve and negative predictive values were 100%, 56%, 33% and 100% for the Mino lta jaundice meter and 100%, 48%, 29% and 100% for the Ingram icterometer, respectively. The high sensitivity and negative predictive value of both de vices render them suitable for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Howe ver, because of its low cost, the Ingram icterometer is preferable to the m ore complex and expensive Minolta jaundice meter, especially in countries w ith a high birth rate, such as Turkey.