Considerable differences between methods for plasma D-dimer in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis: increased positive prediction using elevated discriminatory limits.
Four analytical methods for plasma D-dimer have been compared in a group of 82 consecutive patients with suspected venous thrombosis, 22 of whom subsequently received a positive clinical diagnosis. Differences in diagnostic power between methods were observed. In three of the four methods tested, the use of elevated discriminatory limits (rather than conventional 95-percentile upper reference limits) resulted in stronger positive predictive values for thromboembolism. We suggest that this approach may result in better diagnostic performance of the D-dimer method.
Björk
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Varberg Hospital, Varberg, Sweden.
Hall
C
C
von Schenck
H
H
Hansson
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; C036309:fibrin fragment D