Text Box: APPLICATION OF TRANSCUTANEOUS BILIRUBINOMETRY FOR SCREENING OF NEONATES WITH HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA IN IRAN (KERMAN PROVINCE) Niknafs P University Hospital No. 1, Kerman, Iran Objective: Neonatal jaundice is probably the most frequently encountered diagnostic and therapeutic problem in the newborn, but its accurate assessment still requires a measurement of the serum bilirubin concentration. Thus, the development of a screening test that will reduce the necessity for laboratory analysis and is more reliable than visual inspection of skin color is desirable. Icterometric measurement of the intensity of yellow color in the skin, using icterometer, appears to be useful. The icterometer is a strip of transparent perspex. On its reverse surface are painted five yellow stripes in slightly different shades. The painted side is pressed against the tip of the baby¡¯s nose until the skin becomes blanched. The yellow color of the skin can then be matched with the yellow stripes on the scale. The reading is recorded according to the number of the best match. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried-out on 343 full-term neonates taken to investigator in Kerman. Results: There was a linear correlation between serum bilirubin and transcutaneous bilirubinometry (r = 0.85, standard error = 0.004). Sensitivity and specificity of this method were 95% and 84% respectively. Conclusion: Regarding the low price and the ease of the usage on one hand and interlaboratory variations in bilirubin measurements on the other hand, it is concluded that, transcutaneous bilirubinometry by icterometer is an accurate method for screening of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. 1201