The invention provides a method of prognosis of a subject with an infection, identifying a subject at greater risk of death from an infection and/or identifying a subject at greater risk of developing an infection, the method comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from the subject, wherein a higher amount of FLC is associated with decreased survival due to the infection and/or increased risk from an infection and/or having an increased risk of developing an infection. A method of monitoring an infection, comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from a patient having an infection and comparing the amount of FLC in the sample with an amount of FLC detected in a sample previously obtained from the patient, wherein an increase in the amount FLC detected, compared to the previous sample, indicates an increase in the infection in the patient, and a decrease in the amount of FLC indicates a decrease in the infection in the patient. Assay kits for use in the method are also provided. Assay kits comprising one or more anti-FLC antibodies and one or more anti-bacterial antigen antibodies are also provided.
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