Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia (NH) is a common problem worldwide and is a cause of morbidity and mortality especially in low-resource settings.
Methods: A study was carried out at Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) clinics along the Thailand-Myanmar border to evaluate a non-invasive test for diagnosis of NH in a low-resource setting. Performance of a transcutaneous bilirubinometer Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105 was assessed against routine capillary serum bilirubin testing (with BR-501 microbilirubinometer) before phototherapy during neonatal care in the first week of life.
Objectives: New point-of-care (POC) quantitative G6PD testing devices developed to provide safe radical cure for malaria may be used to diagnose G6PD deficiency in newborns at risk of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, improving clinical care, and preventing related morbidity and mortality.
Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study analysing technical performance and usability of the 'STANDARD G6PD' Biosensor when used by trained midwives on cord blood samples at two rural clinics on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Results: In 307 cord blood samples, the Biosensor had a sensitivity of 1.