Patent ID: 7871785

Claim:
A method of identifying an individual at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis, the method comprising: (a) measuring the level of at least one antigen in a biological sample from the individual, the at least one antigen being H-1, H-2, Lewis a , Lewis b , Lewis x , Lewis y , sulfated or sialyated H-1, sulfated or sialyated H-2, sulfated or sialyated Lewis a , sulfated or sialyated Lewis b , sulfated or sialylated Lewis x , or sulfated or sialyated Lewis y , and (b) comparing the measured level of the at least one antigen to a predetermined value or a predetermined range of values, wherein the individual is at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis if the measured level of the at least one antigen differs from the predetermined value or is outside the predetermined range of values.