Reliability of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement According to the Skin Colour of Newborns

Neonatal jaundice is a physiological process characterized by a yellow coloration of the skin and mucous membranes linked to an increase in a pigment: bilirubin. However, an excessive accumulation of bilirubin can lead to neurological complications: kernicterus. The screening for pathological jaundice is carried out through daily measurements of transcutaneous bilirubin using non-invasive devices (bilirubinometers). The diagnosis is made by measuring blood bilirubin levels and comparing them with reference curves. In newborns with dark skin, transcutaneous bilirubin measurements may be inaccurate because melanin interferes with the bilirubinometers.