Ruling Out VTE with Point-of-Care d-Dimer Testing

In a meta-analysis, sensitivity of four point-of-care D-dimer tests ranged from 85% to 96%.

Many patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) present with nonspecific signs and symptoms, creating a diagnostic challenge. Researchers performed a meta-analysis of 23 prospective studies that assessed the diagnostic performance of point-of-care d-dimer tests for excluding VTE in 13,959 consecutive adult outpatients. The tests evaluated were the semiqualitative SimpliRED d-dimer (12 studies), the qualitative Clearview Simplify d-dimer (7), and the quantitative Cardiac d-dimer (4) and Triage d-dimer (2).

Six studies assessed patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), two assessed patients with suspected PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and the remaining studies assessed only patients with suspected DVT. Prevalence of VTE ranged fro…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices