Test Code HDDIME Sensitive D-Dimer, Blood
Additional Codes
LAB313
Methodology
Used for ruling out deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) and as part of the DIC panel.
Performing Laboratory
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center-Hematology and Coagulation
CPT: 85379
Specimen Requirements
Specimen must arrive within 4 hours of draw.
Container/Tube: Light blue-top (sodium citrate) tube
Specimen: 2.7 mL of sodium citrate whole blood
Transport Temperature: Ambient
Specimen Stability: Stable for 8 hours at room temperature
Collection Instructions: Tube must be full. Do not centrifuge. If collected through an indwelling catheter, line should be flushed with saline and first 10 mL of blood should be discarded. Remove needle from syringe following appropriate safety procedures. Immediately transfer 2.5 mL of blood to a non-evacuated tube, and allow blood to run down sides of tube. Mix gently 3 or 4 times. If collected through a blood collection set (butterfly), a discard tube must first be drawn to eliminate dead space from tubing. Gently invert 3 to 4 times to mix blood. Do not uncap tube.
Reference Values
<0.45 µg/mL FEU
DVT/PE is highly unlikely in a patient with a negative sensitive D-dimer (<0.45 µg/mL). Sensitive D-dimer levels also rise during normal pregnancy, but very high levels are associated with complications. A negative sensitive 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 and PE.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Available STAT