Back when I was a resident (gazes into the distance) I used to plot bilirubin values – by hand – on paper – in a snowstorm… Ok, whatever… Now we have computers and stuff. So, the next time you see a baby with hyperbilirubinemia and need to calculate the light level for phototherapy use the Bili Tool. This handy calculator stratifies by risk and is for newborns over 35 weeks gestational age. You can click the button below to access it or go to https://bilitool.org.

You need to know wither the date and time of birth to the closest hour and the time of lab sample OR the age in hours and the total bilirubin. Enter the numbers and watch the magic! Here is an example of what you’d get for a 90-hour-old infant with a bilirubin level of 15.2 mg/dL.

References / Key Articles

Longhurst CA, Turner SW, Burgos AE. Development of a Web-based Decision Support Tool to Increase Use of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Guidelines. Journal of Quality and Patient Safety. May 2009.

AAP Subcommittee on Hyperbilirubinemia. Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation. Pediatrics. July 2004.