Effect of skinfold thickness on transcutaneous bilirubin measurements

We studied the effect of skinfold thickness on the correlation between serum total bilirubin level and transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) readings. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken at 1-4 h of age. Serum total bilirubin levels and TcB readings were obtained at 1-4 (first) and 44-56 h of age (discharge). No correlation was found between first reading and skinfold thickness (rho = -0.196), whereas correlations with first serum bilirubin level and blood hematocrit were 0.397 and -0.373, respectively. The correlation between discharge serum total bilirubin level and TcB reading was affected by skinfold thickness, and not improved with the use of first reading as a reference for discharge reading.