Uptodate about techniques for the neonatal screening values of bilirubin levels used for jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is one of the main factors responsible for maternal stress and the increasing length of hospitalization in the first days after birth. Therefore, accurately determining bilirubin values with low costs investment is essential to guide a quickly and effectively treated. This article aims to review the main techniques used in current practice to measure bilirubin levels in the newborn and establish the correlation between treatment and monitoring. Thus, we will present the working methods for transcutaneous bilirubin measurement, continuous transcutaneous bilirubin monitoring simultaneously with vital signs and serum bilirubin measurement. Furthermore, we will present the main differences in the evaluation in normal weight and premature newborns. In conclusion, the measurement of bilirubin in the newborn contributes to initiating the phototherapy and the decrease of kernicterus cases with significant neurological consequences.