RAPID ASSAY OF LACTOFERRIN IN KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA

We compared measurement of lactoferrin concentration by the LactoCard solid phase ELISA assay with the LactoPlate radial immunodiffusion ass ay in tears of normal patients and those with keratoconjunctivitis sic ca. The LactoCard, a new lactoferrin assay, allows rapid determination of tear lactoferrin concentration in 10-15 min, a notable improvement over the 3 days required of the LactoPlate. There was no statisticall y significant difference between the accuracy of the two assays in nor mal patients nor in those patients with a diagnosis of keratoconjuncti vitis sicca. Both assays showed a significant decrease in tear lactofe rrin concentration in patients with severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca when compared to normal patients. The LactoCard is a rapid and reliabl e means of measuring tear lactoferrin concentration in a clinical sett ing.