D-Dimer (PE or DIC)
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Turnaround Time:
Routine: 2 Hours
Urgent: 1 Hour
Test Schedule:
24 hours, 7 days a week.
Units:
Interpretation:
Less than 0.50 micrograms/mL: PE very unlikely.
.50 - 4.0 micrograms/mL: seen in ill patients and not diagnostic of thrombosis.
Greater than 4.0 micrograms/mL: suggestive but not diagnostic of DIC.
Critical Values:
None
Specimen Requirements:
3.2% sodium citrate tubes are acceptable provided they are filed to the line on the manufacturers label. Tubes must be full (see comments below). Whole blood specimens are stable for 4 hours at room temperature. Citrate plasma separated from cells is stable for 14 days at -20 degrees C.
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
Add blood to the 1.3 mL mark of Pediatric BLUE top tube, 3.2 sodium citrate.
Reference Range:
Less than 0.500 ug/mL FEU.
Comments:
Draw volume is critical due to the liquid anticoagulant. Allow tubes to fill by vacuum. For tubes with rubber stopper, fill to line on label.
For tubes with plastic (Hemogard) cap, fill level is above top of label.
If drawing with syringe, do not remove vacutainer stopper, insert needle through stopper and allow tube to fill, by vacuum. Do not overfill vacutainer.
Note: Pediatric tubes have no vacuum; remove cap and add blood to the 1.3 mL mark. Do not overfill pediatric tube.
Moderately to marked hemolyzed or lipemic samples are not acceptable.
Synonyms:
DIC Screen, D Dimer, PE Screen