jaundice and they should be given the accurate information needed to do this The nice guideline recommends the measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin as a less invasive procedure than blood sampling and the recommended site for this is the sternum. Thiss site will reducw disress for the baby and the potential for eye injury, or for forehead wrinkling to affect the readings. A bilirubinometer is require to measure the level of bilirubin. This is recommended in near-term and term babies over 24 hours old, but serum bilirubin should be taken if under 24 hours old where visible jaundice is present and for babies at less than 35 weeks any baby under 24 hours old with visible jaundice requires an urgent assessment of their risk of significant hyper bilirubinaemia preferably withiin two hours to take a TcB measurement first and then a serum bilirubin involves unnecessary delay to summarise #visible or suspected jaundice in first 24 hours-serum bilirubin within two hours #Over 24 hours in near-term and term infants-TcB measurement#less than 35 week gestationak age infant - serum bilirubin #Do not rely on TcB levels above 250 microcol/l The guideline recommends that either a TcB or serum bilirubin measurement should be used to assess the level of jaundice in babies who are visibly jaundiced. The TcB or serum bilirubin level should be plotted against the threshold table (see Figure i) which is also available in the quick reference guideline and provides clear routes for further action. it is imperative that practitoners record and plot their findings accurately against the threshold data