TC bili meters

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Just wondering if anyone else uses the TC bilimeter, BiliCheck, with the disposable tips you calibrate each time? If so, when you do your test, do you lift the meter in between each of the 5 readings or do you just press softly enough to get the green light to stay on and pull the trigger 5 times without lifting it off the skin? I was taught to do it either way at one hospital and to lift it off at another. Just wonder if it makes any diff.........if this question makes any sense at all!!!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
If youi read the manufacturers book ( I had to do it) it recommends that you lift it off after each check. I am having a heck of a time with my bilicheck machine, having to send it back for repair for off readings. It is away more than it is on the unit. I am not happy with the response from the company or the reliability of the machine. You just don't know if you are out of range unless you happen to have to draw a serum. Anyone else having issues????

I believe this is an important point. The bilimeter MUST be used per manufacturer's instructions or inaccuracies and failure are the result. We actually had so many problems from slight misuses and misunderstanding, that a rep came out and gave us an inservice on proper use. I learned a bit as did others, and we have had fewer problems since. It is also critical to change the tips with EVERY SINGLE USE. People surprisingly do not do this and it can result in major inaccuracy in reading.

They also replaced our old meter with a new one and with proper use, we have had no real major problems since. Accuracy is much improved, too.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

PS: the false readings we seemed to encounter actually gave us much higher meter readings than the serums reported, not the other way around. While this is good news, poking babies' heels too often is not.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
It is also critical to change the tips with EVERY SINGLE USE. People surprisingly do not do this and it can result in major inaccuracy in reading.

Good grief, you mean people don't change it between babies? Gross.

I have found, anecdotally as well, that the bilichek tends to be higher than the serum bili.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Well not sharing them among babies, but using the same tip again on a single baby. Yes, this was being done and I don't know why.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, you can't really reuse them....

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