What does the D-Dimer (D-Dimer) - D-Dimer blood test mean? Get a free analysis of your blood test now. Here's what you get with our free analysis:
The D-Dimer test measures the presence of D-dimer, a protein fragment produced when a blood clot dissolves in the body. It's primarily used to rule out thrombosis (blood clots) in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Elevated D-dimer levels can indicate active blood clot formation or dissolution. This test is particularly useful in emergency settings to quickly assess the likelihood of blood clots. However, D-dimer can also be elevated in other conditions like pregnancy, inflammation, cancer, or after surgery, so it's often used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools for a comprehensive evaluation.
A D-Dimer level below the lower range is generally not clinically significant. The test is designed to rule out thrombosis when levels are normal or low. A value below the lower range simply indicates that there is no evidence of abnormal blood clot formation or breakdown in the body. This is typically a reassuring result and suggests a low likelihood of conditions like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. However, interpretation should always be done in the context of the patient’s clinical presentation and other diagnostic findings.
An elevated D-Dimer level (above 0.5 µg/mL FEU) suggests increased blood clot formation and breakdown in the body. This can indicate conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). However, D-Dimer can also be elevated in non-thrombotic conditions like pregnancy, inflammation, cancer, recent surgery, or advanced age. Therefore, a high D-Dimer result is not diagnostic on its own and requires further investigation. Depending on the clinical context, additional imaging studies like ultrasound or CT scans may be necessary to confirm or rule out thrombosis.