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Reference Notes and Guidelines

This quantitative D-dimer assay is used for the exclusion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), in conjunction with clinical signs, symptoms and pre-test probability scores (e.g. Wells or Geneva score for PE). The negative predictive value (NPV) of this assay is >99%, using at a cut-off of 500 ng/mL FEU*. This assay is FDA cleared and CE marked.

D-dimer can also be used as an aid in diagnosing disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). There are several physiological or clinical situations that may lead to an increase in the level of D-dimer, other than the unexpected appearance of thrombosis. These are: age, pregnancy, hematomas, infectious or inflammatory syndromes, cancers etc. For positive results (≧ 500ng/mL FEU), follow-up tests include pulmonary angiography, V/Q scan, venography, CUS and helical CT.

*FEU = Fibrinogen Equivalent Unit

Important: The reporting units (ng/mL FEU) are not the same as ng/mL or ng/mL DDU, used in our previous test or in other labs.

Reference: VIDAS D-Dimer Exclusion II package insert. bioMerieux. Dec 2013