BILIRUBIN ASSAY IN NEONATAL JAUNDICE

A report is given of an extended trial of a simple modification of the Malloy and Evelyn method for the assay of bilirubin in neonatal jaundice. From a study of the results obtained it is concluded (a) that it is necessary to assay “direct” as well as total bilirubin in all jaundiced newborn babies, (b) that in haemolytic disease of the newborn, the exact rate of rise of “indirect” bilirubin concentration is a useful guide in deciding treatment with exchange transfusion.