D-Dimer, Plasma

DDIQ - NOCO

1.0 mL plasma from Blue Top (3.2% Na Citrate)

Full blue top tube or 1.0 mL plasma frozen

Full blue top tube or 1.0 mL plasma frozen.

The light blue capped tubes, containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate, used for coagulation testing must be allowed to fill completely (after filling a small air space will normally be present). For patients having a hematocrit greater than 55%, contact the hospital coagulation department to obtain a special collection tube. 

 Whole Blood Na Cit on heparin – ambient -1 hr
Whole blood Na Cit (unopen/unspun) ambient -24 hours
Plasma Na Cit (unopen/spun) ambient -24 Hr.
Plasma Na Cit double spun and separated, Frozen –20C - 2 weeks

Clotted Serum received instead of Sodium Citrate plasma
Specimen past stability
Frozen plasma received thawed
Underfilled or Overfilled, blood/anticoagulant ratio must be 9/1; Specimens must be between 90% -110% full
Collected in a 3.8% Sodium Citrate tube instead of 3.2% Sodium Citrate tube
Drawn in outdated/expired tube
Hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic sample

Monday through Sunday; Continuously

Same day

Refer to the Coagulation Reference Range and Critical Results documents in the Resources file on the facility test directory page. 

The determination of D-Dimer is becoming a widespread tool for diagnosing thrombosis and monitoring thrombolytic therapy.

Elevated levels of D-Dimer are found in clinical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). D-Dimer levels also rise during the normal pregnancy, but very high levels are associated with complications. A negative D-Dimer result when combined with a clinical assessment of low pretest probability has been shown to have a high negative predictive value for DVT or PE. D-Dimer results in human citrated plasma from IL Coagulation systems in conjunction with a clinical pretest probability (PTP) assessment model can exclude venous thromboembolism in outpatients suspected of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

While a positive D-Dimer alone is not diagnostic of DVT or PE, a negative D-Dimer can be used to exclude the diagnosis of venous thrombosis. There are a number of articles available that discuss the choice of cut-off value for ruling out venous thrombosis.