This assay is used for the quantitative determination of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in human serum and plasma, aiding in the early detection and management of acute inflammation in critically ill patients. IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine involved in immune responses, first identified under various names before being universally named IL-6 in 1988. It affects B-cells, T-cells, stem cells, hepatocytes, and brain cells. IL-6 is produced rapidly during acute inflammation caused by trauma, infection, stress, or injury, and elevated levels may help predict complications or missed injuries in trauma patients. In ICU settings, IL-6 levels are useful for assessing the severity and progression of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, and septic shock, as well as predicting patient outcomes. It is also a valuable early marker for neonatal sepsis and plays a role in chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
