Abstract
A non-invasive method to determine neonatal serum bilirubin concentration from skin reflectance was developed. Spectral reflectance measurements using a novel fiberoptic reflectometer (400-750 nm, 8 sec scan time) were performed on the blanched skin (3 cm2 area) on the back of 108 infants. The predicted bilirubin value from the skin reflectance was calculated as a function of the percent reflectance at 420, 460 and 510 nm. This 3-wavelength function was derived from the Kubelka-Monk theory relating reflectance to the absorption and scattering properties of the skin.
The correlation of the bilirubin value predicted from the triple wavelength function and the actual serum bilirubin value for 217 determinations in 108 black and white infants showed a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.78 (P<.00001). The 95% confidence limit for the predicted bilirubin value compared to the actual bilirubin value was ±1.6 mg%. The 103 samples in the 48 black patients showed an R of 0.86 (P<.00001) with a 95% confidence limit of ±1.5 mg%. The 114 determinations in the 50 white infants showed a 95% confidence limit of ±1.4 mg%.
Skin reflectance can serve as a screening tool for predicting serum bilirubin concentration in black and white neonates.
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Schreiner, R., Hannemann, R., Dewitt, D. et al. 1021 DETERMINATION OF SERUM BILIRUBIN BY SKIN REFLECTANCE. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 534 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01027
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01027