Transcutaneous bilirubinometer: an instrument for clinical research.

The transcutaneous bilirubinometer can be an effective instrument for clinical research. With neonatal jaundice occurring in approximately 50-75% of newborns, nurse researchers investigating many important issues surrounding this commonly occurring condition will find the bilirubinometer useful in screening for jaundice, testing effectiveness of various therapeutic modalities, and evaluating clinical progress. This article presents a review of the literature reporting reliability and validity of meter findings and makes recommendations for meter use.