Direct spectrophotometry of total serum bilirubin in the newborn.

RECT SPECTIt( )PHOTOMETRY of serum bihrubin implies the det ation of Serum brilirubin at or near its absorption maxiumuni at m l)y means of a spectrophotometer calibrated with bilirubin ndards, with a correction for the presence of hemolysis intmoed. A spectrophotomnetric method for hilirubin evaluation has three antages: 1. It serves as a check on methods that employ the van deli Bergh gent. 2. It overcomes the problem of hemolysis, which interferes with use of the van den Bergh reagent. 3. It may replace methods involving the van den Bergh reagent ause it is much simpler to perform, moi-e i-apid, and may very sibly be more accurate. Two closely i-elated methods for the direct spectrophotornetry of rubill were introduced by Shinowara (1) and by White et al. (2) use with a precision spectrophotometer. A variety of instruntation has been described (1-5). In this report it is demonted that a less sensitive instrument, the Coleman Junior Spectrotometer,* may also be used for the direct measurement of billin. METHODS AND MATERIALS