D-Dimer

About This Test

Department: Haematology

Requirement:

Citrate (blue tube)

COAGULATION TUBES MUST BE FILLED TO LINE.

Turnaround Time:

Same day.

D-dimer testing is helpful in patients with a low clinical probability of venous thromboembolism (VTE) as assessed using a two- level DVT or PE Wells score.

Inpatient D-dimer testing may be beneficial as part of risk assessment in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or suspected vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT).

In all other situations, inpatient testing of D-dimer is RARELY indicated. Raised D-dimers are found in many conditions including pregnancy, malignancy, surgery, trauma, infection and hospitalisation. D-dimer levels increase in liver disease due to reduced clearance. D-dimer levels increase with increasing age.

Please do NOT request D-dimer testing unless clinically indicated.

Other Comments:

Reference range: < 500ng/ml FEU

Interpret results in context of clinical risk score and history.

Upper limit D-dimer levels reported is 128,000 ng/ml FEU.

Note D-dimer testing can be added to a previous sample if citrated sample available in laboratory and < 24 hours old.