most proper timing of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement after phototherapy treatment in the newborn period

Background: there are limited data about the proper transcutaneous bilirubin measuring time to detect levels that are close to serum bilirubin levels after ending the phototherapy treatment. objectives: to compare the transcutaneous bilirubin and total serum bilirubin levels, and to evaluate the reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements after phototherapy treatment of newborns because of hyperbilirubinemia. methods: the study included 105 late preterm and term newborns consisting of 56 females (53.3%) and 49 males (46.6%), with gestational age 35^0/7 - 41^6/7 weeks who were treated with phototherapy. a bilicheck (m&b-mbj20) device was used for transcutaneous bilirubin measurements. the average of three measurements on the skin in the mid-sternal area were obtained. correlations between transcutaneous bilirubin and venous bilirubin levels were evaluated 6 and 12 hours after phototherapy. transcutaneous bilirubin measurements were performed simultaneously with blood collection or within a maximum ± 15 minutes time difference for total serum bilirubin. results: the average phototherapy time was 10 ± 2 (range, 8 - 12) hours. the average difference between transcutaneous bilirubin and venous bilirubin levels post phototherapy was 2.61 mg/dl after 6 hours and 0.8 mg/dl after 12 hours. the hematocrit levels of the patients ranged between 40 - 66% with an average of 53% ± 4.8, the median level was 51%. correlation coefficients according to hours after treatment were high for the 6th hour (r = 0.76) and very high for the 12th hour. conclusions: jaundice scanning with transcutaneous bilirubin measurements 6 - 12 hours after the end of phototherapy is reliable and may be helpful in preventing additional blood collection from the heel.