Comparing Kramer's rule with transcutaneous bilirubin vs. Kramer's rule only in reducing total serum bilirubin sampling among neonates with jaundice.

Background: In the Malaysian primary healthcare setting, neonatal jaundice (NNJ) screening uses either Kramer's Rule (KR), a visual assessment, or a combination with non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB). However, data on the quantification of the need for total serum bilirubin (TSB) sampling between these approaches are limited. This study aimed to compare the frequency of blood draws required between the two cohorts, alongside investigating disparities in phototherapy initiation and severe hyperbilirubinemia occurrences.