Select Location

D Dimer Test

Dr. Sreelekha Last Updated on 25th November 2021

A D-dimer test is conducted for checking the presence of D-dimer in the blood. It is a protein fragment that is made when the blood clot dissolves in the body. The other names of this protein fragment are fragment D-dimer and fibrin degradation fragment.

What is D Dimer Test Used For?What is included in a D Dimer Test?D Dimer Test Procedure How to prepare for the D Dimer Test?What type of infections can a D Dimer Test detect?How long does it take to get the D Dimer Test results?What affects the D Dimer Test results?Frequently Asked Questions

Request a Call Back

Call us:

+91 80619 70525

What is D Dimer Test Used For?

The test is used for identifying the inappropriate blood clotting in the body. Blood clotting is an important process that prevents you from losing too much blood when injured. In a healthy person, the blood clots dissolve when the injury is healed completely. However, if you are someone with blood clotting disorders, then there are chances of formation of blood clots in the body even without any injuries. Blood clots so formed do not dissolve in the body and are harmful and even life-threatening. With the help of the D-dimer test, such inappropriate blood clots in the body can be identified.

Book a D-Dimer Test through MFine!

What is included in a D Dimer Test?

We know that the D-dimer test is used for the identification of inappropriate blood clots or for the identification of blood clotting disorders such as:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that is formed in the vein deep inside your body. Most of the DVTs are found in thigs or lower legs. DVT is caused because of a long time sitting still with blood clot formation in leg veins and if the veins get swollen or inflamed, then it is known as thrombophlebitis. Tenderness over the vein, skin redness, and swelling in the affected body part is the other common symptoms of DVT. There are medications that are used for easing the pain and reducing inflammation. These medications also break the clot and keep new clot formation away.

Pulmonary embolism (PE): Pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in the lung artery. This occurs when the blood clot breaks from another site and travels to the lungs through the bloodstream. PE is a serious health condition because it permanently damages the lungs, the levels of oxygen lowers, and it damages the other organs due to a shortage of oxygen. The medicines that are prescribed for patients with PE are blood thinners or anticoagulants that keep the blood clots from getting larger and prevents the formation of new blood clots.

Stroke: Stroke happens when there is no blood flow to a part of your brain. When there is no blood flow, the brain’s cells die within minutes as they do not get the required amount of nutrients including oxygen. Ischemic stroke is a type of stroke that is caused by blood clots. These blood clots block the blood vessels in the brain. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases are at higher risk of stroke.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a disorder caused because of the overactive proteins that modulate blood clotting. The cause of DIC can be inflammation, cancer, or infection. There are a few proteins that are responsible for the formation of the blood clot when there is an injury. In the DIC cases, these proteins start forming blood clots throughout the body leading to less or no supply of blood to other organs of the body. Also due to over usage of clotting factors, the body goes into a clotting deficiency state and bleeding in abnormal sites occurs as a consequence Lack of blood flow leads to multiple organs failure.

D Dimer Test Procedure

A lab technician will collect the blood sample from the vein in your arm using a needle. Once the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected and stored in a test tube. This test tube is then sent to the lab for further processing.

How to prepare for the D Dimer Test?

Before Test	During Test
There are no special preparations that are required for this test.	During the test, a lab technician will collect the blood sample from your vein by inserting a needle. The blood sample is then collected in a test tube which is sent for further processing. It usually takes less than five minutes for the pain to go away.

Things to consider after the D Dimer Test is completed

Once the test results are available, consult your doctor who would recommend treatment based on your test results. Please do not self diagnose your health condition.

What type of infections can a D Dimer Test detect?

Through this test, the detection and diagnosis of intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis are possible. The D-dimer test is also combined with other laboratory tests such as platelet count, clotting time assays, and assays of the clot in fibrinogen.

How long does it take to get the D Dimer Test results?

Once the blood samples are dropped at the labs, the test results will be available on the MFine app for download within the next 24-48 hours.

Is D Dimer a Definitive Test?

D-dimer is a sensitive yet poor specificity test that detects any abnormal clotting in the body in conditions like Deep vein thrombosis. The test is not recommended for pulmonary embolism and for diagnosis.

How to read the D Dimer Test report?

D-dimer values	What it means
The value should be between 220 and 500 ng/ml fibrinogen-equivalent units	Normal
More than 500 ng/ml fibrinogen-equivalent units	Positive
Less than 220 ng/ml fibrinogen-equivalent units	Negative

However, an increased range of D-dimer values cannot be considered abnormal as they might have increased due to other reasons like:

Recent surgery, recent bleeding, trauma, and hematomas
It could be due to congestive heart failure, liver disease, or hypercoagulable states
Pregnancy

What affects the D Dimer Test results?

If the D-dimer test results are normal or low, it indicates that there is no blood clotting disorder. However, if the test results are positive it could be due to blood clotting disorder. It could also be due to other conditions such as pregnancy, recent surgery, and heart diseases. It is always advised to talk to your doctor about all your concerns and never try self-medication.

Our Trusted Lab Partners for D Dimer Test

For further assistance

Call to book your diagnostic test

Call 08061931415

Get a callback from MFine

Call Me Back

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the test used?

With the help of the D-dimer test, doctors can rule out the presence of inappropriate blood clotting in the body. Other health conditions that can be ruled out are:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pulmonary embolism (PE)
Stroke

The test is also helpful in determining if further testing is required to diagnose other health conditions that may cause inappropriate clots such as hypercoagulability, disseminated intravascular coagulation and monitoring the effectiveness of DIC treatment.

When is the test ordered?

The test is ordered when the patient has the symptoms of serious conditions such as difficulty in breathing or chest pain. Other times when the test is ordered is when the patients show symptoms related to deep vein thrombosis like:

Edema
Leg swelling
Leg tenderness
Discolouration of the leg

The test is also ordered if the patients have symptoms of pulmonary embolism like:

Rapid heart rate
Chest pain because of problem in the lungs
Coughing with blood in the sputum (this condition is known as hemoptysis)
Sudden shortness of breath

If the patient shows the symptoms of disseminated intravascular coagulation like:

Vomiting
Nausea
Bleeding gums
Severe muscle pain
Abdominal pain
Seizures
Decreased urine output

The test is conducted along with other tests such as PT, fibrinogen, platelet count, PTT. The D-dimer test is a quick and non-invasive test that helps doctors rule out the abnormal causes of clotting.

If the D-dimer is positive, what are the other procedures ordered by the doctor?

If the D-dimer is positive and the risk of thrombosis and venous thromboembolism is increased and there are also chances of shock, then the doctor will ask you to get a scanning which is a non-invasive procedure. These scanning could be venous ultrasound, CT scan, direct pulmonary angiography, or V/Q scan.

What are the risk factors for inappropriate blood clotting?

Smoking
Obesity
Using birth control or hormone replacement therapy
Broken bone
Cancers
History of venous thromboembolism
Prolonged immobility
Pregnancy or recent childbirth

What cancers cause elevated D-dimer?

Cancers such as prostate, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and rectal cancer can cause an elevation in D-dimer.

Is the D-dimer test done on an empty stomach?

No, there is no such restriction that the test should be done on an empty stomach. Also, there are no other special requirements that should be taken into consideration before the test.

What are possible reasons for false-positive D-dimer results?

A false-positive of D-dimer is possible because of advanced age, pregnancy, and recent surgery.

What are the risks associated with the D-dimer test?

There is very little or no risk associated with this blood test. You may experience slight pain or bruise at the spot from where the blood sample was collected, however, this pain will subside quickly.