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Neonatal jaundice

Depending on the number of bilirubinometers needed, the latter strategy is a more cost-effective
option than serum bilirubin in all visibly jaundiced babies. In addition, transcutaneous bilirubin
measurement is a less invasive procedure than blood sampling and thus is more acceptable to
parents and clinical staff.

Recommendation – 5.2 Devices for measuring bilirubin
When measuring the bilirubin level:
• use a transcutaneous bilirubinometer in babies with a gestational age of 35 weeks or more
and postnatal age of more than 24 hours
• if a transcutaneous bilirubinometer is not available, measure the serum bilirubin
• if a transcutaneous bilirubinometer measurement indicates a bilirubin level greater than
250 micromol/litre check the result by measuring the serum bilirubin
• always use serum bilirubin measurement to determine the bilirubin level in babies with
jaundice in the first 24 hours of life
• always use serum bilirubin measurement to determine the bilirubin level in babies less
than 35 weeks gestational age
• always use serum bilirubin measurement for babies at or above the relevant treatment
threshold for their postnatal age, and for all subsequent measurements
• do not use an icterometer.

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