A comparison of fluorescent and nonfluorescent light sources for phototherapy.

We have compared fluorescent and nonfluorescent light sources for phototherapy for newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia. Phototherapy was provided by a tungsten halogen lamp and conventional fluorescent light with identical radiant flux of 6 microW/sq cm. For 22 infants treated with the nonfluorescent lamp the mean duration of phototherapy was 33.77 hours and the mean reduction of bilirubin was 3.84 mg/100 ml/day. This did not differ significantly from infants treated with conventional fluorescent lights. The nonfluorescent light can be utilized for infants in incubators or on radiant warmers. These results provide additional support for the relationship between radiant flux as a practical measure of phototherapy dose and the clinical response of a reduction in serum bilirubin.