Comparison of fecal lactoferrin latex agglutination assay and methylene blue microscopy for detection of fecal leukocytes in Clostridium difficile-associated disease.

The fecal lactoferrin assay was more sensitive (75%) than methylene blue microscopy (40%) for the detection of leukocytes in Clostridium difficile toxin-positive fecal samples. Although limited sensitivity and specificity precludes its use as a laboratory screening test, it may be a more useful initial test in an algorithm for clinically suspected C. difficile-associated disease.