Comparison of the Accuracy of Noninvasive Bilirubin Measurements by optical imaging (ToB) using BiliCapture and Transcutaneous Bilirubinometer (TcB) using BiliChek with laboratory serum bilirubin level (TSB)

Background and Aims: Hyperbilirubinemia is very common in preterm infants andcan potentially harm the central nervous system. The bilirubin test involves currently being followed is either ‘heel pricking’ or sometimes ‘application of cannula for subsequent extraction of blood samples which is indeed very painful. Therefore, this gives an urge to researchers to develop a device, which could detect the bilirubin levels in the body of newborns and interpret the severity of jaundice in them. Methods : In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 100 neonates were enrolled. Total bilirubin was measured using a transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) on the forehead and optical imaging using scanning of conjunctiva of eyes (ToB). Then, during the subsequent 30 minutes’ blood samples were obtained and sent to the laboratory for determining the Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) levels. Results: The mean±SD values of serum, transcutaneous and optical imaging bilirubin levels were 10.73±2.02 and 11.68±2.72 and 13.1±2.34 g/dl, respectively. A high correlation of r=0.88 was observed between TSB and TcB and r=0.73 between TSB and ToB. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement with the comparison values for both BiliCheck and BiliCapture devices. The sensitivity and specificity of transcutaneous bilirubinometer using BiliChek were 88% and 76% and that of optical imaging using BiliCapture for bilirubin measurement were 92% and 75.6%, respectively. Conclusions: The optical imaging of conjunctive for bilirubin assay is a safe alternative to laboratory bilirubin assay and transcutaneous bilirubinometer (BiliChek).