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Hemolytic jaundice
Normally, in the case of hemolytic jaundice that appears before the
age of three days, measurement of total serum bilirubin concentration
must also be taken. (The correlation between the measured value
taken by the instrument and total serum bilirubin concentration drops
substantially due to physiologic factors.)
Precocious jaundice
If there is a possibility that the newborn infant is suffering from
precocious jaundice (incompatible blood type, hemolytic jaundice),
it is necessary to take frequent measurements or measure the total
serum bilirubin concentration as well. (There is a possibility that
bilirubin concentration in the subcutaneous tissue rises slower than
the total serum bilirubin concentration.)
When the newborn infant is undergoing photo-therapy
During photo-therapy, the bilirubin concentration in the subcutaneous
tissue under the area exposed to light decreases before the total
serum bilirubin concentration does, so it is necessary to limit the use
of this instrument only when photo-therapy equipment is used from
the back of the patient or affix a light-blocking patch to the measuring
point on the forehead or chest. (In areas exposed to light, there are
some cases in which only the bilirubin concentration in the subcuta-
neous tissue decreases before the total serum bilirubin concentra-
tion improves. In addition, if the total serum bilirubin concentration
increases again after therapy, there is a possibility that the bilirubin
concentration in the subcutaneous tissue will increase later.)
Measuring point
Measurements must be taken on the forehead or sternum, where a
sufficient amount of blood is circulated. (There is a chance that the
bilirubin concentration in the subcutaneous tissue is low for areas with
small amounts of blood and areas in which the subcutaneous tissue is
subject to keratinization.)
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