D-Dimer
Alias: N/A
Discipline: Haematology
Test information: D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product, a small protein fragment present in the blood after a blood clot is degraded by fibrinolysis. It is so named because it contains two D fragments of the fibrin protein joined by a cross-link, hence forming a protein dimer. D-dimer concentration may be determined by a blood test to help diagnose thrombosis. While a negative result practically rules out thrombosis, a positive result can indicate thrombosis, but does not exclude other potential causes. Its main use, therefore, is to exclude thromboembolic disease where the probability is low.
- Specimen Type(s)
-
- Blood;
- Other Acceptable Specimen Type(s)
- N/A
- Specimen Container - Adult
-
- Light Blue Top BD;
- Specimen Container - Paediatric
-
- N/A;
- Analytes
-
- N/A;
- Part of a test profile?
- No
- Volume (min) of sample to be sent to laboratory
- 4ml
- Patient Preparation, Sample Handling and Transport
- Coagulation samples are volume critical, if a patient is difficult to bleed paediatric tubes (1.3ml) are available on request. Some patients with a grossly raised Haematocrit (HCT) >0.57 may give erroneous coagulation test results - individual patient adjusted volume coagulation tubes are available on request from the laboratory.
- Maximum add on time
- 24 hours
- Units and Reference Ranges / Interpretation
- Pos/Neg
- UKAS number
- 8869
- UKAS accredited test?
- Yes
- Comments
- N/A
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Last updated: 30-04-2024