Intermountain Health is testing new technology to screen for jaundice

MURRAY — Thousands of babies are born and tested for jaundice in Utah every year.

To test for jaundice, a poke is required to obtain a blood sample.

One day, however, that may not be the case as Intermountain Health is testing a new way to check for jaundice. Three Intermountain hospitals, including Intermountain Medical Center, in Murray, are testing a way to get around the needle, where all that would be needed is a smartphone to take a picture.

"We wanna save pokes and we want to keep the blood in the baby," said Dr. Timothy Bahr, a neonatologist at the hospital. "We don't want to have to take blood."

He said this new move in technology could be a game-changer for families as Intermountain Health and Picterus AS, a Norwegian health technology company, are in a partnership to study an app that can test bilirubin levels in a baby using a smartphone's camera.

"Most babies, up to 60% of babies, are born with jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin, or they develop it over the first couple days of their life and about 10% of babies end up needing treatment," Bahr said.

Every year, more than 33,000 babies are born at Intermountain Health hospitals and tested for jaundice each year.

The impact of jaundice if left untreated

Three in five newborns will experience jaundice, which, in its severe case and if left untreated, can cause brain damage or hearing loss.

To test for jaundice using a smartphone is as easy as placing a card with a colored-wheel card on a baby's chest, and then opening the app. The app will take about six photos of the card against the baby's skin. The app then uploads that information onto a server where it is evaluated and sent back to the phone with measurements.

This is being studied as a tool that would be used to see if further jaundice care is needed.

Camille, a mom of three, is very familiar with testing for jaundice, most recently with her 5-week-old son.

"You're wailing that you need help, and just watching that someone milk blood out of your foot because it doesn't come out super nicely, and it's a lot for your heart to watch, for sure," she said.

If successful, the mother said it could save a lot of heartache, pokes and time.

"You're always stressed, like, am I missing something? Is it not improving? That would just be so nice to be able to stay home and not add that stress of getting yourself and your baby ready to get off to the pediatrician's office, again," she said, regarding the sometimes lengthy treatment for jaundiced babies.

Researchers will study the app on around 300 babies at three sites, including Provo, Ogden and Murray.

They are also working to make sure that all skin tones and types will work with the app as they test the technology.

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