Methods for Determining Bilirubin Level in Neonatal Jaundice Screening and Monitoring: A Literature Review

Abstract

Physiological jaundice in newborns occurs after the first 24 hours of life due to the increasing level of bilirubin in the blood circulation resulting in the yellowish discoloration of the skin and sclera. Severe jaundice with toxic bilirubin level may lead to brain damage caused by the bilirubin staining of the central nervous system, medically termed as kernicterus. Currently, there are various measurement techniques in monitoring bilirubin level in cases of neonatal jaundice. This paper aimed to provide a comprehensive review of various methods of non-invasive screening and monitoring of neonatal jaundice which includes the light wavelength absorption or reflectance technique, optical technique, electronic equipment and image processing technique.