Uses and Limitations of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement

Mayo Study of TcB, cont.

June 2009

This is a concordance table comparing transcutaneous to Vitros serum bilirubin.  The second row shows all infants with high-risk serum bilirubin values by the Vitros method.  The transcutaneous measurement predicted a high-risk value in 63 of 67 infants with a high-risk serum values, for a sensitivity of 94%.  The first row of the table shows all infants with low-risk serum bilirubin values by Vitros method.  The transcutaneous method correctly predicted low risk in 35 of 64 infants with low-risk serum values; for a specificity of 55%.  We can see that overestimation of bilirubin by the transcutaneous method leads to sensitive, but not specific, prediction of the risk of potentially dangerous serum bilirubin values.  For screening purposes sensitivity is relatively more important than specificity, because infants with high-risk transcutaneous values will have a serum bilirubin drawn to confirm that risk; whereas infants who are low risk may be discharged without serum measurement.

< Previous Slide

Mayo Study of TcB, cont.

Next Slide >

 

Jump to section:

• Introduction
• Outline
• Introduction
• Kernicterus
• Historical Information
• Focus of the Guideline
• Key Elements to the Recommendation
• Key Elements to the Recommendation, cont.
• Mayo Study of TcB
• Mayo Study of TcB, cont.
• Mayo Study of TcB: TcB vs. diazo TsB
• Mayo Study of TcB: TcB vs Vitros TsB
• Mayo Study of TcB
• Mayo Study of TcB, cont.
• Mayo Study of TcB, cont.
• Mayo Study of TcB, cont.
• Conclusions
• Conclusions, cont.
• References
• Questions?