Evaluation of the Bilichek transcutaneous bilirubinometer in the Chinese new-borns

Objective: To evaluate the relation between transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) by BiliChek and total serum bilirubin (TSB) in the Chinese neonates compared with another transcutaneous Bilirubinometer (VanHou). Methods: TcB measurements were performed on the forehead by Bilichek and VanHou. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) was determined within 5 minutes after TcB measurement. The correlation and agreement between the two devices and TSB were assessed. Results: A total of 172 babies were recruited. The mean TSB (+/- SD) was 11.1 +/- 4.6 mg/dl, and the mean TcB (+/- SD) was respectively 13.4 +/- 3.5 mg/dl (VanHou), 12.3 +/- 4.5 mg/dl (Bilichek). When the TSB was lower than 9 mg/dl, the difference of VanHou TcB and TSB was much higher than that of Bilichek (3.51 vs. 1.28 mg/dl, p<0.01). When the TSB was 9 +/- 12 mg/dl, the bias of TcB and TSB was 2.31 mg/dl (VanHou) vs. 1.39 mg/dl (Bilichek) (p<0.01). The correlation between the TcB (Bilichek) and TSB was a little higher than the VanHou (0.94 vs. 0.92). Bilichek had a greater area under the ROC curve than VanHou when a threshold value of TSB was chosen at 9, 12 or 15 mg/dl. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that TcB tended to overestimate the TSB, and compared with VanHou, Bilichek had a better agreement with the TSB. Conclusions: Bilichek has a good correlation with TSB. Furthermore, when TSB was lower than 12 mg/dl, Bilichek is superior to the VanHou obviously.