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| Test Code: |
DDIML |
| Description: |
D-dimer may be elevated in many clinical conditions where fibrin clot is formed and subsequently digested, including venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thus elevated D-dimer is not specific for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. However, ELISA-based D-dimer detection is very sensitive and associated with a high negative predictive value. It is important to remember that the pre-test probability of disease affects the negative predictive value. In studies where the pre-test probability of DVT/PE was low, the negative predictive value approaches 100%. However with a high pre-test probability of DVT/PE, the negative predictive value falls to 80-85%. Thus a patient with a low pre-test likelihood of DVT/PE and a negative D-dimer ELISA (<500 FEU) is very unlikely to have DVT or PE. |
| Indications: |
Testing outpatients with a low pre-test probability of venous thromboembolic disease and limiting the clinical evaluation. Note: If the pre-test probability of DVT/PE is higher, as in hospitalized patients, a negative D-dimer result does not exclude the diagnosis. |
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