For identifying Bell's stage ≥II, faecal calprotectin (97.14% sensitivity, 100% specificity) and serum calprotectin (100% sensitivity, 96.4% specificity), as well as a panel consisting of urine proteins including Cystatin C (CST3), Pigment Epithelium Derived Factor (PEDF), and Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RET4) (96% sensitivity, 90% specificity), and maternal human milk oligosaccharide disialyllacto-N-tetraose DSNLT (90% sensitivity and specificity) demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity when sampled prior to or around the initial diagnosis of NEC. Here, SERPINF1 is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.