Laboratory hematology : official publication of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology
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The clinical diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is often difficult and requires a number of imaging tests plus clinical assessment. It is now accepted that pretest clinical probability of disease plus a sensitive, quantitative D-Dimer assay can be used to reliably exclude VTE. In design of diagnostic strategies for VTE it is recommended that the D-Dimer assay be evaluated for sensitivity and specificity in well-designed, blinded studies using a cohort of patients for whom the assay will ultimately be used. ⋯ The findings demonstrate that a diagnostic strategy using the IL Test D-Dimer assay as a first-line test in combination with pretest probability is safe and can be used in patients with suspected VTE. In conclusion, patient analysis results indicating low or moderate pretest probability for VTE and a negative IL Test D-Dimer (cutoff value of 237 ng/mL) assay result on the ACL 9000 reliably exclude VTE (both PE and DVT). We expect that inclusion of the rapid IL Test D-Dimer assay for assessment of suspected VTE in the emergency department at Providence will result in improved patient diagnosis and therapy, reduction in unnecessary radiological investigations, and lowering of overall costs associated with investigation of patients suspected of having VTE disease.