Evaluation of Bili-ruler, a Low-cost, Plastic Icterometer for Community-based Screening of Jaundice in Newborns

Brief Summary

Newborn jaundice, or accumulation of bilirubin molecules in blood, affects 60-80% of newborns and, in severe cases, places newborns at risk of brain damage and death. Universal screening of all newborn for jaundice ensures that at-risk newborns are identified and treated early. The bili-ruler is a low-cost ($10) plastic icterometer which could enable accurate and timely identification of jaundice in diverse settings. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of bili-ruler to identify jaundiced newborns in their first week of life, compared to traditional methods of jaundice screening: visual inspection and transcutaneous bilirubinometry.