Test Code DDIM D-DIMER, Plasma
Specimen Type
Plasma
Container/Tube
Light blue top tube, 3.2% sodium citrate
Offsite Collection Instructions
Whole blood sample must arrive in the laboratory
within seven hours of specimen collection.
If transport time exceeds seven hours, follow
centrifugation instructions:
- Samples must be centrifuged at >2500 x g for 10
minutes at room temperature. - Carefully remove the plasma from the cells using a
plastic transfer pipette avoiding the buffy coat. - Aliquot removed plasma into 2 plastic tubes
containing a minimum of 500 uL of specimen in each tube. - The plasma samples must then be frozen at
-20ºC. - Once solidly frozen, they must be shipped on dry
ice.
Samples that have thawed in transit will be rejected.
Note: For clients who do not have access to dry ice
DO NOT freeze the specimen. Follow the centrifugation
instructions
and send fresh plasma or send whole blood sample. It now
becomes
vital that the specimen arrives in the lab within seven hours
of
collection.
Turnaround Time
STAT: 60 minutes
Routine: 4 hours
Preferred Volume
1 mL
UCMC Collection Instructions
Specimens may be collected and sent to the laboratory at any
time.
Test can be added on to an existing order up to 8 hours
following the time of blood draw.
STAT Turnaround Time
1 hour
Additional Information
The literature cut-off value for exclusion of DVT/PE for
this
assay is 0.5 ug/mL Fibrinogen Equivalent Units (FEU).
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/reviews/K162227.pdf
All 3.2% sodium citrate light blue top tubes require a ratio
of 9 parts blood to 1 part anticoagulant (example: a 3.0 mL
tube
requires 2.7 mL blood added to 0.3 mL of anticoagulant).
Fee Code
30585379
Test Usage
D-dimer are elevated in the setting of thrombosis. D-dimer
can be used to rule out DVT/PE. D-dimer are
also part of DIC scoring system
Critical Results
n/a
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
DAY(S) AND TIME(S) PERFORMED
24/7
STAT DAY(S) AND TIME(S) PERFORMED
Available
CPT
85379
Method Name
Latex Immunoassay
Reference Values
<0.4 ug/mL FEU.
Reject Due To
Specimens that have wrong ratio of blood to anticoagulant
(fill volume) clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
Whole blood/unspun samples greater than 6 hours from collection time
will be rejected.