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Objective:Measuring serum tumour necrosis factor-[alpha] (TNF-[alpha]) and Regulated upon Activation Normal T cell Expressed and Secreated (RANTES) in neonatal sepsis and determining whether early and late onset sepsis were associated with differences in their concentrations.Study Design:In 15 neonates showing clinical signs of early- or late-onset infection, serum TNF-[alpha] and RANTES were determined at first suspicion of sepsis and before starting antibiotics. Fifteen healthy neonates were included as controls.Results:Serum TNF-[alpha] white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher, whereas RANTES was significantly lower in the septic group compared with the non-septic group. There was no significant difference in RANTES or TNF-[alpha] levels between infants having early or late-onset sepsis. Similar to term neonates, premature neonates, responded to infection with increased TNF-[alpha] and decreased RANTES, with no statistical differences between both groups.Conclusion:In this study TNF-[alpha] is the best diagnostic test of neonatal sepsis, followed by CRP, when evaluated at first suspicion of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]