FLUOROMETRIC BILIRUBIN BINDING ASSAY (FBBA) AND TRANSCUTANEOUS BILIRUBINOMETRY (TcB) IN TERM NEWBORNS

Abstract

Fifty-four white full term newborns (gestational age 40.0±1.2 wks; birth wt 3447±440 gms), not under phototherapy, were studied. FBBA including reserve bilirubin binding capacity (RBBC) and saturation index (SI) were determined, as well as the bilirubin levels by TcB and modified diazo method. There is a significant linear relationship between serum bilirubin levels and values obtained by TcB (figure). This study differs from other published works on TcB by demonstrating the RBBC and SI levels of infants who belong to Area AB (RBBC=11.75±3.18, SI=1.75±0.5) and Area CD (RBBC=13.23±1.6, SI=2.86±0.79). These FBBA values including the RBBC (12.12±1.97) and SI (3.55±1.62) of the infants outside these areas are normal, demonstrating that this group of infants are not in danger of Kernicterus regardless of the TcB and serum bilirubin values at 3 days of life.

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