Transcutaneous
bilirubinometry (TCB) is the most widely accepted alternative, as it is reliable and painless7.
(5,6) Transcutaneous spectrophotometric measurement or transcutaneous
bilirubinometry is an alternative way of estimating serum bilirubin and is non-invasive, fast, and relatively inexpensive.
Sankar et al., "Reliability of transcutaneous
bilirubinometry from shielded skin in neonates receiving phototherapy: A prospective cohort study," Journal of Perinatology, vol.
Blood for total serum bilirubin was taken within 10 minutes of performing transcutaneous
bilirubinometry. TSB was estimated by Vanden Berg method.
Study on diagnostic value of transcutaneous
bilirubinometry in neonate patients.
The BiliCam "compared favorably" with transcutaneous
bilirubinometry, according to the investigators, Dr.
Over the last two decades, transcutaneous
bilirubinometry has been developed as a noninvasive, safe, painless, and convenient method for the estimation of total bilirubin level but has not been widely adopted due to concerns about its accuracy.
Transcutaneous bilirubin
bilirubinometry measures the amount of bilirubin transferring from serum to the skin tissue.
For decades practitioners have relied on the appearance and intensity of jaundice as a means of deciding when to obtain a TSB measurement, but recognizing that estimating TSB by eye is difficult and on occasion grossly misleading (3) has prompted the development of transcutaneous
bilirubinometry.
Transcutaneous
bilirubinometry is a noninvasive and cost-effective alternative.
Simple, educated observation and close follow-up has been discredited and usurped by the current recommendation for mass screening of all newborns, regardless of risk factors with transcutaneous
bilirubinometry (TcB).