Two of our local hospitals use similar devices, though not the same brand
as the one you mention. We find it useful as a screening device to get an
idea where a bilirubin level is. Although they are more accurate than
estimating by the degree of jaundice seen, they are not accurate enough to
be relied upon totally. When we do a serum bilirubin level, the jaundice
meter is usually within 1 point and almost always within about 2
points. This saves doing a lot of blood tests on newborns who are
jaundiced but have low readings. I don't know that I would rely on a
meter reading to manage a child on phototherapy unless there is a lot
better correlation with serum levels than with our instruments. For one
thing our instruments are unreliable on infants with dark skin. Also, if
a child is on phototherapy you are removing the bilirubin deposited in the
skin, so a meter reading on areas of the skin exposed to phototherapy
would logically have a much lower reading than without phototherapy.
--
Ken Setter MD
Pediatric & Adolescent Care
1725 E. 19th #303 Tel: 918-747-7544
Tulsa, OK 74104 Fax: 918-747-3952