Jaundice is a common condition seen in newborn babies. It occurs when there is a build up of a yellow pigment called bilirubin in the skin and eyes. Bilirubin is produced as old red blood cells are broken down. Traditionally, jaundice is detected by looking at the yellowness of the skin and a blood test. However, a new device called Jaundice Meter has been developed which can accurately and non-invasively detect jaundice in babies.
What is Jaundice Meter?
Jaundice Meter is a handheld device that uses pulse photometers to measure the level of bilirubin in the skin. It works on the principle of transillumination, where blue light is passed through the skin and the amount of light absorbed is measured. Higher bilirubin levels absorb more light. The readings are compared to norms for age to determine the risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia or high jaundice.
The device is extremely simple to use. It is painlessly placed on the forehead of the baby for a few seconds to take accurate bilirubin readings. No blood is required to be drawn. The results are immediately displayed on the device screen as a bilirubin level in milligrams per deciliter along with a low, moderate or high risk category.
Advantages of Jaundice Meter
The biggest advantage of the Jaundice Meter is that it provides an objective measurement of bilirubin levels non-invasively. This removes any human error or bias that can occur with subjective visual assessment of jaundice. It can detect even mild jaundice that may be missed on physical examination alone.
As no blood test is needed, it causes no pain or stress to the baby. Getting repeated readings is more practical for tracking bilirubin trends over time with the Jaundice Meter. This helps monitor babies at risk of hyperbilirubinemia more closely without multiple painful heel pricks.
The readings take only a few seconds to obtain. So it allows quick screening of all newborns before discharge. It can also be used at home if jaundice develops later, saving parents a visit to the clinic or lab. The results are displayed digitally on the device, so there is no ambiguity or need to match the skin colour to charts.
Clinical Studies on Jaundice Meter
Several clinical validation studies have been conducted to test the accuracy of the Jaundice Meter. One study compared its readings to total serum bilirubin levels in 240 newborns. It found a strong correlation between the two measurements with an r value of 0.86.
When compared to risk categories, the device achieved up to 97% sensitivity and specificity in detecting babies with total bilirubin over 125 micromoles/liter or 5 days old and above this risk level. This suggests an exceedingly low chance of missing severe hyperbilirubinemia cases.
In another study of 75 jaundiced newborns, the Jaundice Meter readings agreed with the blood test categories in 78.7% of infants when taking ±10 micromoles/liter variation into account. For babies above 205 micromoles/liter, it correctly identified all 6 cases.
Real World Usage and Benefits
After successful validation trials, Jaundice Meters are now being used in newborn nurseries of many hospitals across the country. The non-invasive screening has been adopted in positioning newborns to the levels recommended in guidelines better. This helps provide timely interventions if levels are rising rapidly.
With home usage studies also finding it useful, the device helps extend screening without adding burden on the healthcare system or parents. It educates families about normal variations and warning signs of jaundice. This makes them more confident caretakers capable of judging the need for medical help themselves in many cases.
The quantitative results obtained promote an objective, systematic approach in managing neonatal jaundice. It ensures none of the babies in higher risk groups are discharged without a bilirubin check. Overall, the Jaundice Meter represents an innovative technological solution that can help address a major global cause of newborn readmissions.
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