CRP and Sepsis: Cord blood IL-6 has a sensitivity of 87–100% for early-onset sepsis.13–15 Serum IL-6 has a sensitivity of 75–85% and a specificity of 72.8–88% for the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis,16,17 and a sensitivity of 80–93.8%10,18,19 and a specificity of 80–96%18–20 for late-onset sepsis, thereby outperforming CRP.10 Serum IL-6 concentrations quickly fall to undetectable values during antibiotic treatment.10,20