A method of indicating the cause of a subject’s fever. The method comprises analysing
gene expression in a sample in the subject with a fever. Based on this analysis ratio-based biomarkers (RBB) which are the ratio between expression of a numerator
gene selected from one of (a) ANXA3, ALPL, IL1R2, ARG1, or MMP9, (b) IFIT1, RSAD2, IFIT3, HERC5, PI3, or ADGRE3, (c) ANKRD22, BATF2, ETV7, GBP5, SAERPING1, CEACAM8, CAMP, or LTF, (d) ANXA3, ALPL, IL1R2, ARG1, MMP9, FCER1A, CCR3, or HDC, (e) CEACAM8, (f) IFITM3, (g) IFIT1, RSAD2, IFIT3, LY6E, HERC5, PI3, ADGRE3, FCER1A, HDC, CCR3, or CCN3, (h) FCER1A, HDC, CCR3, CCR3, CCN3, or PI3, or (i) IFIT1, RSAD2, IFIT3, HERC5, PI3, or ADGRE3, and a denominator
gene selected from SAT1, SRGN, or NCF1 is determined. Based on the comparison of these ratios,
interferon activating
disease, non-
interferon activating
disease, systemic
fungal disease, a bacterial infection,
Kawasaki disease,
tuberculosis, a
viral disease, and
systemic lupus erythematosus is distinguished. The analysis can be
in vitro. The sample representative of
gene expression in a subject can comprise neutrophils or
whole blood. A further aspect is a kit comprising reagents capable of binding to
RNA, selected from primers and a probe.