Both KIM-1 (relative DOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.53–5.87) and IL-18 (relative DOR 2.64, 95% CI 1.11–6.28) had significantly better diagnostic accuracy for AKI than NGAL, while IL-18/Cr had significantly worse diagnostic accuracy for AKI than NGAL (relative DOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22–0.81) (Additional file 1: Table S2). The gene discussed is HAVCR1; the disease is acute kidney injury.