没有足够的证据支持普遍筛查黄疸可预防慢性胆红素脑病。[36]Trikalinos TA, Chung M, Lau J, et al. Systematic review of screening for bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct;124(4):1162-71.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786450?tool=bestpractice.com[37]Ip S, Chung M, Trikalinos T, et al. Screening for bilirubin encephalopathy. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2009;1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=es72http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20722171?tool=bestpractice.com 然而，筛查无症状的新生儿对早期识别黄疸和/或胆红素脑病的体征很重要，以便评估病因，密切监测血清胆红素水平，并且在必要时进行治疗干预。因为黄疸多发生在出生后的第一周内，所这是最佳筛查时间段。从医院出院前，应每 8 到 12 小时对新生儿进行一次黄疸评估。仅靠肉眼评估黄疸被认为是不可靠的，通常推荐将经皮胆红素测定仪和血清总胆红素测定作为筛查工具。[38]Bhutani VK, Johnson LH, Keren R. Diagnosis and management of hyperbilirubinemia in the term neonate: for a safer first week. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004 Aug;51(4):843-61.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15275978?tool=bestpractice.com[39]Maisels MJ, Bhutani VK, Bogen D, et al. Hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant ≥35 weeks' gestation: an update with clarifications. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct;124(4):1193-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786452?tool=bestpractice.com[40]Mishra S, Chawla D, Agarwal R, et al. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry reduces the need for blood sampling in neonates with visible jaundice. Acta Paediatr. 2009 Dec;98(12):1916-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19811459?tool=bestpractice.com[41]De Luca D, Jackson GL, Tridente A, et al. Transcutaneous bilirubin nomograms: a systematic review of population differences and analysis of bilirubin kinetics. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009 Nov;163(11):1054-9.http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/11/1054http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19884597?tool=bestpractice.com
美国儿科学会 (American Academy of Pediatrics) 建议使用血清总胆红素 (total serum bilirubin, TSB) 或经皮胆红素 (transcutaneous bilirubin, TcB) 水平进行出院前普遍胆红素筛查，根据小时龄对应列线图的风险区间来进行解读，Bhutani nomogram for designation of risk based on hour-specific serum bilirubin values以对高胆红素血症程度提供可检测的评估。[39]Maisels MJ, Bhutani VK, Bogen D, et al. Hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant ≥35 weeks' gestation: an update with clarifications. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct;124(4):1193-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786452?tool=bestpractice.com目前认为将出院前 TSB 或 TcB 测量结果和临床危险因素相结合可以提高风险预测的准确性。因此，建议采用基于出院前 TSB/TcB、胎龄和其他高胆红素血症危险因素的结构化方法进行管理和随访。有两次或以上 TSB 或 TcB 连续测量结果时，在列线图上将它们绘制出来有助于对胆红素升高速度进行评估。如果 TSB/TcB 水平超过列线图的百分位数，则可能存在溶血，适合行进一步的检查和随访。
