[Transcutaneous bilirubin determination: correlation in white premature infants weighing less than 1500 gm]

The transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) was evaluated in 24 preterm infants of less than 34 weeks gestation and weight less than 1500 g. A close correlation between the TcB index and serum bilirubin values was obtained with 50 measurements at sternum (R = 0.858, p less than 0.001). From these resultant ratios it is concluded that the TcB-meter is a valuable tool in screening healthy preterm infants less than 34 weeks gestation for hyperbilirubinemia.