Bilirubin Assay for Neonates Takes Only 60 Seconds

A neonatal total bilirubin assay requires only 100 µL of blood and offers test results in about 60 seconds.

The neonatal total bilirubin (nBili) test is performed on the RAPIDPoint 405 blood gas analyzer with software version 3.7. With one small blood sample, a full range of analytes can be measured including bilirubin, blood gases, electrolytes, glucose, total hemoglobin, and other critical care parameters required to assess critically ill infants.

The RAPIDPoint 405 offers a no-maintenance, cartridge-based solution for critical care testing of whole blood--unlike the reagent-based chemistry analyzers that require the separation of plasma from the red blood cells prior to analysis. Ease of use, minimal sample size, and fast turnaround of test results enhance patient care.

Siemens (Erlangen, Germany) nBili test on the RAPIDPoint 405 Blood Gas Analyzer is intended to measure the concentration of bilirubin in an infant's blood as an aid for assessing the risk for kernicterus in a point-of-care setting.

Kernicterus is due to marked jaundice in the newborn period. The high blood level of the pigment bilirubin results in its deposition in the brain, which damages the brain. Today, no baby should develop brain damage from untreated jaundice. If a baby gets too jaundiced, the baby can be treated with phototherapy. The baby can be put under blue lights most of the day. If the baby gets very jaundiced, an exchange transfusion can be done. Kernicterus is also called bilirubin encephalopathy.

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