D-Dimer Blood Test
The D-Dimer blood test detects high levels of clot breakdown products in the blood. If the blood level is normal, it is useful to rule out deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism (PE). The test can be done in a hospital or outpatient lab.
Results of the D-Dimer test are obtained quickly, but results may be ambiguous as they don’t indicate the location or confirm a diagnosis of a blood clot. Also, there are many reasons for why a D-Dimer test result can be abnormal besides DVT or PE, including infection, recent surgery, trauma, pregnancy, heart or liver disease, or in some cancers.