Abstract
A positive indirect Coomb's test (ABO test) in the serum of ABO incompatible newborn infants has been advocated to predict the occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia. Transcutaneous bilirubin index (TcBI) and calculated total serum bilirubin (TBs) were determined serially in the first 72 hours of life in 2 groups of ABO set-up infants and a 3rd control group (no ABO set-up) as follows: Group I-positive ABO test (n=63), Group II-negative ABO test (n=31) and Group III-control (n=109). Total serum bilirubin determined in 33 full-term Caucasian newborn infants was correlated with simultaneous TcBI readings yielding an R value of 0.93. The TcBI readings were obtained using a Minolta Jaundice Meter 101. Mean BW and GA for the 3 groups were 3464±518, 3589±587 and 3466±514g and 39.5±1.1, 39.8±1.2 and 39.7±1.1 weeks. Determination of TBs using TcBI still did not show any statistically significant differences when Groups I, II and III were compared. These results reveal that a positive ABO test does not increase the predictive value of hyperbilirubinemia in ABO incompatible infants. Furthermore, in Caucasian newborn infants TBs determination can be substituted with TcBI during the first three days of life.
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