[Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: correlation of the reading site obtained with spectrophotometry and diazoreaction...

During the last ten years, the clinical use of a non-invasive method for the measurement of bilirubin became available as an alternative for classical routine procedures. Values obtained with a Minolta bilirubinometer from different reading sites were correlated with those obtained by using an optic bilirubinometer (American Diagnostics) and a dimethyl-sulfoxide mediated diazoreaction. The antero-external face of the thigh revealed the highest correlation coefficients with the two serum techniques (r = 0.925, p < 0.001) and was more efficient when the newborn was under phototherapy (r = 0.811, p < 0.01).