Abstract

As high levels of serum bilirubin well known to be toxic to the brain especially preterm neonates, many methods adapted for bilirubin measurement. We evaluated total bedside blood gas analyzer bilirubin (BsB) in preterm and term newborns compared to central laboratory auto analyzer bilirubin (TsB). An observational study on term and preterm newborns paired samples were checked for BsB and TsB looking for the significantly compared values, time needed, gestational age, weight, and anemia and blood volume extraction. A hundred forty one term and preterm newborns were included, birth weights range from 460 to 3450 g with a mean of 1450 and gestational ages from 23 to 40 weeks with a mean of 30.4 weeks. The correlation of TsB to BsB was linear and statistically significant, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit, especially preterm neonate or term neonates already given phototherapy when the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement cannot be recommended the bedside blood gas analyzer bilirubin, hemoglobin and hematocrit were found to be statistically correlated and minimizing the time and extraction blood volume.