Evaluation of a transcutaneous jaundice meter following hospital discharge in term and near-term neonates.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate performance of the Minolta JM-103 Jaundice Meter (JM) as a predictor of total serum bilirubin (TSB) in outpatient neonates during the first week postnatal, and to estimate the number of TSB determinations that might be avoided in clinical use.

STUDY DESIGN: In neonates evaluated posthospital discharge, JM and TSB results were compared using linear regression and a Bland-Altman plot, and predictive indices were calculated for various JM cutoff values. Utilizing the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, the ability of JM to predict risk zone status was determined.

RESULTS: Overall correlation between JM and TSB was 0.77 (p<0.001; n=121). When TSB was >17 mg/dl, a cutoff value for JM of 13 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 1.0, and 50% of TSB determinations would be avoided.

CONCLUSIONS: JM may facilitate outpatient management of hyperbilirubinemia by reducing the number of TSB determinations required; however, it does not provide a reliable substitute for laboratory measurement of TSB.