Dynamic measurement of total serum bilirubin of healthy term newborns during the first post-natal week: an experience from the Huainan region of Anhui province

Abstract

Objective To determine the range of total serum bilirubin(TSB) of healthy term newborns during the first post natal week in Huainan region of Anhui province and provide the theoretical basis for the neonatal jaundice intervention in this region.Methods The bilirubin analyzer for capillary blood was used to measure TSB level of 1257 healthy term newborns during the first post natal week,P25,P50,P75 and P95 were recorded at every time point,the peak serum bilirubin(PSB) and the time it appeared was observed.50 blood samples were randomly selected and the TSB level was measured by the routine laboratory method,at the same time,the serum bilirubin level was measured by bilirubin analyzer for capillary blood.Then,the linear correlation coefficient of capillary blood bilirubin level and TSB level was calculated and statistically analyzed,and at last got the linear regression model.The newborns'skin xanthochromia coverage scales and TSB levels were recorded in order to get the corresponding TSB level in terms of xanthochromia coverage.Results In this study,the serum bilirubin P25,P50,P75 and P95 of 1 257healthy term newborns were 58.64μmol/L,72.51μmol/L L,102.44μmol/L,120.35 μmol/L,respectively in the first day,2nd day 105.41μmol/L,119.72μmol/L,150.18μmol/L,185.30μmol/L,3rd day 128.85μmol/L,157.951μmol/L,191.22μmol/L,227.61μmol/L,4th day 160.24μmol/L,191.40μmol/L,216.65μmol/L,277.49μmol/L,5th day 164.26μmol/L,179.51 μmol/L,209.88μmol/L,263.74μmol/L,6th day 131.87mol/L,172.73μmol/L,195.57μmol./L,231.26μmol/L,and the 7th day 118.94μmol/L,157.57μmol/L,204.83μmol/L,223.84μmol/L,with PSB 294.46μmoL/L appeared at the fourth day.The correlafionship was existed between the capillary blood bilirubin measurement and the routine laboratory method (r =0.948,t =21.067).The TSB level was (1 12.3 ± 6.2) μmol/Lwhen the xanthochromiawas on thehead,(165.1 ± 2 6.7) μmol/Lon the chest,(214.0 ±30.8) μmol/L on the belly,(268.5 ± 28.2) μmol/L on the knee or elbow,and ＞ 271.7μ mol/L on the palm or sole of the foot.Conclusion The TSB variation rang is 120.35 ～ 223.84μmol/L within 7 days after their birth in Huainan region of Anhui province,capillary blood bilirubin is reliable in measuring serum bilirubin level of newborns ; visual assessment of xanthochromia coverage is also an easy and feasible way of estimating serum bilirubin level initially. Key words: Infant, newborn; Hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal