title: Comparative evaluation of D-dimer assays for exclusion of deep venous thrombosis in symptomatic outpatients.
abstract: Diagnostic work-up of patients sent to the hospital for diagnosing of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) often combines the determination of D-dimer and the application of a clinical probability score. To fulfill diagnostic as well as economic needs, D-dimer assays should exhibit a high negative predictive value (NPV) as well as reasonable specificity. In this study, we evaluated both a latex-enhanced immunoassay for use on routine coagulation analyzers and a radial partition immunoassay (RPIA) for use on a point-of-care analyzer. Samples included were from 344 outpatients with suspected deep venous thrombosis. Among them, 100 had deep venous thrombosis. Results obtained for both assays show a good efficiency for exclusion of deep venous thrombosis with well-acceptable specificity.
authors.affiliation: Clinical & Scientific Affairs, Dade Behring Marburg GmbH, P.O. Box 1149, Marburg 35001, Germany. wolfgang_engelhardt@dadebehring.com
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palareti
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legnani
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gringel
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D