This test is intended as an aid in the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. For professional in vitro diagnostic use only.
D-dimer testing was originally developed in the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In the 1990s, it turned out to be useful in diagnosis of thromboembolic process. D-dimer is a fi brin degradation product, a small protein fragment present in the blood after a blood clot is degraded by fi brinolysis. During coagulation of blood, fi brinogen is metabolized to fi brin by thrombin activation. Fibrin consists of D- and E- units. The cleavage of fi brin leads to so called D-dimers. D-dimer concentration may be determined by a blood test to help diagnose thrombosis. Since its introduction in the 1990s, it has become an important test performed patients suspected of thrombotic disorders. While a negative result practically rules out thrombosis, a positive result can indicate thrombosis but does not rule out other potential etiologies. Its main use, therefore, is to exclude thromboembolic disease where the probability is low. D-dimer testing is of clinical use when there is a suspicion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). In patients suspected of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), D-dimer testing may aid in the diagnosis.