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HelpTest Code DDQ D-Dimer
EHR Test Codes
| Test Code | Test Name | |
| Atlas | DDQN | D-Dimer, Quantitative |
| Cerner | DDQ | D-Dimer |
Specimen Requirements
Preparation of Patient:
None
Container Type:
Light Blue Top 3.2% Sodium Citrate Tube 4.5 mL, 3.0 mL, 2.7 mL, 2.0 mL, or 1.8 mL
Specimen Type:
Plasma platelet poor
Specimen Volume:
Fill tube completely. Less than 90% filled tubes will be rejected.
Special Instructions:
For patients who are difficult access, < 1 year, and/or have a hematocrit > 55.9%; special tubes with an adjusted amount of anticoagulant can be prepared to allow for proper blood/anticoagulant ratio for accurate testing. Call the Hematology lab at 231-935-6118 to request special tube.
Specimen Handling/Transport:
Do not centrifuge. Do not refrigerate. Deliver to laboratory immediately.
Transport ambient room temperature.
Special Instructions:
If a specimen cannot be tested within 8 hours of draw, plasma should be removed from the cells and preserved as follows: Spin in a centrifuge verified for platelet-poor plasma preparation, remove plasma to a plastic tube, spin the plasma a second time, then remove plasma to a screw-top plastic tube and freeze immediately at -20° C. Transport frozen.
Specimen Storage/Stability:
Whole blood ambient room temperature 8 hours.
Double spun plasma aliquot ambient room temperature 24 hours.
Double spun plasma aliquot frozen -20° C 24 months.
Specimen Rejection:
Less than 90% filled tubes
Hemolysis
Clotted
Performing Laboratory
Munson Healthcare Laboratories
Priority, Frequency, & Turnaround
Priority:
STAT, ASAP, Non-Emergent
Frequency:
24 hours 7 days a week
Turnaround:
0 - 1 days
STAT 60 minute from receipt in lab
Methodology
Immuno Turbidimetric
Reporting
Reference Range:
0 - 0.55 ug/mL
Interpretive Data:
<0.55 ug/mL FEU has a very high negative predictive value approaching 100% for DVT and PE.
Critical Decision:
None
Clinical Significance
D-Dimer is a terminal product present as a result of fibrinolysis of a clot. One of the main clinical applications of D-Dimer is the exclusion of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) when the DDimer level is lower than a predefined cut-off. A D-Dimer test should be used in conjunction with other well validated clinical information to safely exclude VTE in patients. In thrombotic states, the D-Dimer level may increase after anticoagulant treatment withdrawal. This increase may be correlated with a thrombosis recurrence risk, especially with idiopathic thromboses. Therefore, some authors suggest that the evolution of the D-Dimer level is a useful tool for the evaluation of risk of VTE recurrence in such patients. In DIC the fibrinolytic system is activated and therefore the D-Dimer level increases. D-Dimer assays can help in the diagnosis of DIC, and in DIC patients’ management. The D-Dimer level increases during the activation states of coagulation because such states induce the increased production of thrombin, which is followed by the formation of fibrin and subsequently leads to enhanced fibrinolysis. Increased levels of D-Dimer have been reported in the following cases: post-operative period, trauma, liver disease, sickle cell disease, cancers, bleeding, severe infections / sepsis, inflammation, malignancy, and COVID-19 infections.
CPT Code(s)
85379