title: D-dimer and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products.
abstract: Although clinical requests for D-dimer are generally in the minority of assays in the routine clinical laboratory, they are an important aspect-especially if the laboratory supports an active emergency room and hematology service. Throughout the literature, D-dimer assays have been used for many purposes in the research setting; however it is generally the negative predictive value of the assay that is the most common piece of information being utilized from the standpoint of a clinician. Research or clinical needs will dictate the type of assay required-a qualitative, semiquantitative, or quantitative D-dimer assay may be appropriate for a particular purpose. Commonalities and differences between these assay types are outlined here, as well as universal concerns regarding standardization of D-dimer assay results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stang
mesh_terms: D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen