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22553 D-Dimer, Quantitative

D-Dimer, Quantitative
Test Code: D-DI
Useful For
The D-dimer test is useful for exclusion (but not diagnosis) of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Whole Blood, Plasma​ 3.2% Citrated Blue Top Tube (BTT)​Citrated Blue Top Tube (BTT)​ ​ 1.0 mL Platelet Poor Plasma​ 0.5 mL Platelet Poor Plasma​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions

See "Preparation of Platelet Poor Plasma"​

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ Ambient​ 4 Hours​
Refrigerated​ 24 Hours​
​ ​ Plasma​ Ambient​ ​4 hours
Refrigerated​ ​24 hours
Frozen (-20°C)​ 2 Weeks​
Frozen (-70°C)​ 6 Months​
Rejection Criteria
Specimens filled below the fill line
Clotted​
Specimens with abnormal results that have  a Hct >55% that have not had the citrate anticoagulant adjusted​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center
 Monday through Sunday​ 2-4 hours Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Eau Claire​
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Flambeau Hospital​
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​2-4 hours ​Immunoassay/Sysmex CA-620
Lakeview Medical Center
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Marshfield​​​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Merrill ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Neillsville​​Monday through Sunday​​​2-4 hours​Immunoassay/Sysmex CS-2500
​Stevens Point ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
​Wausau ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Wisconsin Rapids ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield​ < 190 - 499 ng/mL​
Interpretation
An elevation of D-dimer (>500 ng/mL) indicates activation of coagulation with formation and degradation of cross-linked fibrin. It is a very sensitive, albeit very nonspecific, marker of pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The main value of D-dimer testing in the setting of possible PE or DVT is its negative rule-out capability. A negative D-dimer result, when the pre-test probability of PE or DVT is low to intermediate, essentially excludes PE and DVT. In healthy adults D-dimer levels increase in a linear fashion after age 50. By optimizing the cutoffs with age, the very high sensitivity of the test can be maintained while providing greater specificity. This allows a greater percentage of older adults to be ruled-out. This allows a simple calculation of AGE x 10 for patients over 50 years old. For example, a 65 year-old patient would now have a cutoff of < 650 ng/mL (i.e. values of 650 ng/mL or less considered negative).
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
85379 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​D-Dimer
​Cerner D-Dimer​
​COM ​D-Dimer-Blood
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Whole Blood, Plasma​ 3.2% Citrated Blue Top Tube (BTT)​Citrated Blue Top Tube (BTT)​ ​ 1.0 mL Platelet Poor Plasma​ 0.5 mL Platelet Poor Plasma​ ​
Collection Processing

See "Preparation of Platelet Poor Plasma"​

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ Ambient​ 4 Hours​
Refrigerated​ 24 Hours​
​ ​ Plasma​ Ambient​ ​4 hours
Refrigerated​ ​24 hours
Frozen (-20°C)​ 2 Weeks​
Frozen (-70°C)​ 6 Months​
Rejection Criteria
Specimens filled below the fill line
Clotted​
Specimens with abnormal results that have  a Hct >55% that have not had the citrate anticoagulant adjusted​
Useful For
The D-dimer test is useful for exclusion (but not diagnosis) of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield​ < 190 - 499 ng/mL​
Interpretation
An elevation of D-dimer (>500 ng/mL) indicates activation of coagulation with formation and degradation of cross-linked fibrin. It is a very sensitive, albeit very nonspecific, marker of pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The main value of D-dimer testing in the setting of possible PE or DVT is its negative rule-out capability. A negative D-dimer result, when the pre-test probability of PE or DVT is low to intermediate, essentially excludes PE and DVT. In healthy adults D-dimer levels increase in a linear fashion after age 50. By optimizing the cutoffs with age, the very high sensitivity of the test can be maintained while providing greater specificity. This allows a greater percentage of older adults to be ruled-out. This allows a simple calculation of AGE x 10 for patients over 50 years old. For example, a 65 year-old patient would now have a cutoff of < 650 ng/mL (i.e. values of 650 ng/mL or less considered negative).
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center
 Monday through Sunday​ 2-4 hours Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Eau Claire​
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Flambeau Hospital​
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​2-4 hours ​Immunoassay/Sysmex CA-620
Lakeview Medical Center
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
Marshfield​​​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Merrill ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Neillsville​​Monday through Sunday​​​2-4 hours​Immunoassay/Sysmex CS-2500
​Stevens Point ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
​Wausau ​Monday through Sunday​ ​2-4 hours ​Immuno​assay/Sysmex CS-2500​
​Wisconsin Rapids ​Monday through Friday ​2-4 hours ​Optical Clot Detection/Sysmex CA-660
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
85379 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.