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Test Code LAB4075 D-DIMER, QUANTITATIVE

Specimen Type

Blue top tube (buffered 3.2% liquid sodium citrate) filled to the indicator with whole blood or Sodium Citrate Plasma removed from cells.

Specimen Volume

3mL Blue top (3.2% Sodium Citrate), or

5mL Blue top (3.2% Sodium Citrate), or

1mL Blue top (3.2% Sodium Citrate) MiniCollect vial, or

500uL (minimum) Sodium Citrate Plasma spun and removed from cells.

Turnaround Time

STAT: 1 hour
Routine: 4 hours

Test Schedule

Daily

Sample Stability

Room temp: 8 hours, spun or unspun

Frozen samples are stable for 2 weeks at -20C or 12 months at -70C.

Method

Immunoturbidimetric

Reference Ranges

D-Dimer,  µg/mL FEU         < 0.50

Values of less than or equal to 0.50 µg/mL FEU  have a negative predictive value of 98% for VTE (PE and DVT) when the Wells pretest probability is low or moderate. Results of the D-Dimer test should always be interpreted in conjunction with the patient’s medical history and clinical presentation. A very low percentage of patients with DVT may yield results below the cut-off of 0.50 µg/mL FEU Wells,PS; et al. Use a Clinical Model for Safe Management of Patients with Suspected PE.

Synonyms

D-Dimer; Dimer & Crosslinked Fibrin Degradation Product; XDP

CPT Codes

85380

Test Components

D-Dimer, Qnt

Specimen Processing

Centrifuge and test sample within 8 horus. If Testing is >8 hours centrifuge and freeze plasma for up to 2 weeks.

Rejection Criteria

Clotted or improperly filled tubes as well as severely hemolyzed specimens

Test Limitations

Blood/anticoagulant volume is critical.

Clinical Information

The D-dimer test is used to quantitate the amount of D-dimer in a sample. The specific degradation of fibrin , known as fibrinolysis, is the reactive mechanism responding to the formation of fibrin. On the fibrin clot, plasmin degrades fibrin into various products, including D-dimers. Antibodies specific for these products, which do not recognize fibrinogen, have been developed. The presence of these fibrin degradation products, among which D-dimer is the terminal product, confirms that the fibrinolytic system is in action in response to coagulation activation.

 

The D-dimer acts as a negative predictor for the diagnosis of a thrombotic episode such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Other clinical applications for this test include DIC, efficacy of treatment for a thrombotic episode and screen for possible re-occurrence (myocardial infarction), and to screen for other activation states of coagulation (e.g., post-operative, cancer, and cirrhosis).