Detection of hyperbilirubinemia by skin color measurements in icteric newborn infants at 5 to 14 days of age.

The relation between the yellow color of the skin, as read by the Minolta jaundice meter, and total bilirubin concentration, was compared in two groups of newborn infants suspected of having hyperbilirubinemia, but otherwise well. The study group comprised 73 neonates, icteric at the time of discharge from the nursery, and who were seen in the outpatient clinic at 5 to 14 days of age for checkup and blood sampling. The control group consisted of 52 neonates tested for hyperbilirubinemia at 1 to 4 days of age. Additionally, the relation between skin color and conjugated plasma bilirubin concentration was investigated in the study group. No significant differences in meter response to total bilirubin concentration was found between the two groups. The conjugated bilirubin concentration correlated significantly to the yellow skin color. The jaundice meter can be used as a test for hyperbilirubinemia in neonates at 5 to 14 days of age.