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Blood gas bilirubin measurements in neonates must be adjusted for HbF to avoid misleading results
  1. Niranjan Thomas1,
  2. Alan McNeil2,
  3. Clare Louise Collins1
  1. 1 Neonatology, Sunshine Hospital, Saint Albans, Victoria, Australia
  2. 2 Chemical Pathology, Dorevitch Pathology, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Niranjan Thomas, Neonatology, Sunshine Hospital, Saint Albans, VIC 3021, Australia; niranjanawt{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-322071

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    Hyperbilirubinaemia is common in the first week of life with 60%–80% of babies developing jaundice.1 Though usually uncomplicated, untreated hyperbilirubinaemia, can lead to irreversible neurological injury.2 Prevention of bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND) includes universal risk factor and clinical assessment with additional transcutaneous bilirubinometer or Total serum bilirubin (TSB) assessment.1 Point of care testing (POCT) has the advantage of rapid bedside results, improving outcomes. Bilirubin measurement is available as a POCT via blood gas analysers in most neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Studies have shown good accuracy and precision of blood gas bilirubin compared with standard serum bilirubin assessment.3 4

    A blood gas machine (Radiometer ABL 800 flex) was installed by the company in a new level 3 NICU in Australia and calibrated by the …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors NT and AMcN collected the data and analysed these. The first draft was written by NT. CLC and AMcN reviewed the manuscript. All the authors were involved in the concept and design of the study, were involved in the interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript, and approved the final draft.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.