Since sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection, isolation of bacteria from blood is considered the gold standard.5–7 Due to the low obtainable blood volume in very-low-birthweight infants (VLBW infants, birthweight <1500 g) of around 0.5–1 ml,8 the high percentage of low-level bacteraemia of 68%8 and the long duration to a positive blood culture up to 61 h,9 several parameters have been tested for their accuracy in diagnosing neonatal sepsis including procalcitonin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, presepsin and interleukin-6 (IL-6).7,10. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is infection.