Kathy, she may have been using an Icterometer, a simple tool which is kind of like holding a paint swatch up to the skin to measure bilirubin levels. I found one in the Cascade Birthing Supplies catalog online. _http://www.1cascade.com/professional_products/icterometer/_ (http://www.1cascade.com/professional_products/icterometer/) I've also seen a simple "meter" kind of instrument that is used in the hospital before ordering a heel stick. From WebMD (not my favorite website but it does have some good information) Some hospitals may use a noninvasive device (called a transcutaneous bilirubin meter) instead of the standard heel stick to evaluate a newborn's bilirubin level. A transcutaneous bilirubin meter is a small handheld device that measures bilirubin levels when placed gently against the skin. I learned how to judge bili levels the "old school way" from an article that discussed the cephlocaudal progression of jaundice and equated potential levels by progression on the body. When I was in nursing school, I learned that many of the nursery nurses who had been practicing since the 70s or 80s, learned from the same article. I may even have the article here somewhere! Hope this explains better than the earlier email I sent you! Best regards, Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC Canton MI USA *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html