What is dimer test

A positive test means that you may be making blood clots. The test does not tell where the clots are or why you are making clots. Your provider may order other tests to see where clots are located.

A positive test may be caused by other factors, and you may not have any clots. D-dimer levels can be positive due to:. This makes the test mostly useful when it is negative, when many of the above causes can be ruled out. Veins vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Goldhaber SZ. Pulmonary embolism. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Kline JA.

Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. American Society of Hematology guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: diagnosis of venous thromboembolism. They can form throughout the body, causing organ damage and other serious complications. DIC may be caused by traumatic injuries or certain types of infections or cancer. Stroke , a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. Why do I need a D-dimer test? What happens during a D-dimer test?

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? You don't need any special preparations for a D-dimer test. Are there any risks to a D-dimer test?

What do the results mean? If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider. Is there anything else I need to know about a D-dimer test?

These include: Doppler ultrasound , a test that uses sound waves to create images of your veins. CT angiography. In this test, you are injected with a special dye that helps your blood vessels show up on a special type of x-ray machine. These are two tests that may be done separately or together. They both use small amounts of radioactive substances to help a scanning machine see how well air and blood move through your lungs. References American Heart Association [Internet].

Washington D. Blood Clots; [cited Jan 8]; [about 3 screens]. What is the d-Dimer test? D-dimer; [updated Nov 19; cited Jan 8]; [about 2 screens]. Stroke; [updated Nov 12; cited Jan 8]; [about 2 screens]. Bethesda MD : U. The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you. Author: Healthwise Staff.

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Test Overview A d-dimer test is a blood test that measures a substance that is released when a blood clot breaks up.