Total bilirubin assessments are essential in identifying the etiology of jaundice, in predicting its evolution, and in managing treatment in the newborn. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained by bilirubinometer WAKO (1st), centrifugal auto analyzer Merck Mega (2nd) and dicrete analyzer with dry slide technology Vitros 750 (3rd) methods.

The study group comprised 19 consecutive newborns admitted to Moris Şinasi ChildrenÕs Hospital, with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The venous samples were assessed in the same day without delay. In each sample bilirubin was assessed by these 3 methods, in addition to these 3 values, the average value (4th) of all three assessments was taken as the most acceptable value. Correlations between these 4 values were found highly significant (p<0.0001). It was seen that the highest correlation(r=0.980) achieved was between the 4th and the 2nd values; however, when only 10 out of 19 samples with the bilirubin level higher than 10 mg/dL were taken into consideration, the highest correlation (r=0.974) achieved was seen to be between the 4th and the 3rd.

In conclusion, in assessing total bilirubin level in neonatal jaundice when multiple point calibration is used all the above mentioned 3 methods are found reliable. However, since 3rd gives the highest correlation cofficiant (r=0.974) at high serum bilirubin levels, we believe that, dicrete analyzer with dry slide technology could be used most confidently for bilirubin analysis.