As outcomes are improved with earlier initiation of treatment, much effort has been put forth to identify markers differentiating early sepsis from noninfectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and to aid in prognostication. C-reactive protein elevation has been a traditional marker of inflammation, but it is not specific to infection and is not generally elevated until six to eight hours after introduction of a pathogen. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is systemic inflammatory response syndrome.