Bilirubin binding affinity of serum: comparison of qualitative and quantitative sephadex gel filtration methods.

A simple, 30-mm method of estimating the binding of bilirubin to serum protein was compared with a quantitative method. Good correlation was found between the two methods, both based on Sephadex gel filtration. The results indicate that the presence of loosely bound bilirubin can be determined with this simple, qualitative, semimicro-scale test. This determination is important for the clinical evaluation of jaundiced infants, since it may help to determine whether and when prophylactic therapy to prevent bilirubin encephalopathy is appropriate.