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NOW IN SARIDAR LAB
BILIRUBIN METER FOR NEONATAL BILIRUBIN ASSAY
FROM A HEEL BLOOD DROP
Physiological Jaundice of the Newborn:
The UDPG transferase system which converts bilirubin into a glucuronide ester is not fully developed at birth. In full term infants, several days pass before the enzyme is produced in sufficient quantity to esterify the bilirubin presented to it. Serum bilirubin may rise up to 8 mg/dl in full term infants by the third to fifth day of life as a result of the immature enzyme system before returning to the normal values by the tenth day. This condition is much more aggravated in premature infants.
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Mature (mg/dl) |
Premature (mg/dl) |
Days |
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2 6 |
1 8 |
1 Day |
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6 10 |
6 12 |
2 Days |
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4 - 6 |
10 14 |
3 5 Days |
Measuring the bilirubin level of the neonates is always a challenge in taking the required venous blood samples especially with the need to follow the serum level of bilirubin.
Neonatal bilirubin assay is now done by a simple and painless single brick in the heel of the newborn to get one drop of blood (after wiping off the first drop to avoid hemolysis) which will be collected in a heparinized capillary tube, then bilirubin level will be assayed using bilirubin meter OPTIMA BR-400 which is the latest technology in neonatal bilirubin assay with a reading ability up to 30 mg/dl.
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