Sodium citrate tube
1.8 mL adult or 1.3 mL paediatric tube. An additional coag tube is not required if other coag requested.
Ideally specimens should be received in the laboratory on the day of venepuncture but may be stored at room temperature overnight if a delay is unavoidable.
Repeat samples taken at intervals of < 3 days are normally rejected
Haemolysed, clotted and aged samples cannot be tested (see coagulation screen test)
May be raised in some pathological conditions, during pregnancy and post-operatively
Adult less than 50 years old <230 ng/ml
For adults >50 years old an age related cut off is used (age x5)
The result is accompanied by an interpretive comment
Source of range calculation:
Int J Lab Hematol. 2014 Oct;36(5):541-7. doi: 10.1111/ijlh.12184. Epub 2014 Jan 16.
D-dimer use for deep venous thrombosis exclusion in elderly patients: a comparative analysis of three different approaches to establish cut-off values for an assay with results expressed in D-dimer units.
Cini M, Legnani C, Frascaro M, Sartori M, Cosmi B, Palareti G.
Used in conjunction with Wells scoring, a negative D Dimer may be used to exclude a Thrombotic event. A positive result may be due to other causes.
1 hr – STAT samples
4 hr – routine samples
In house
Clinical advice is available from the Haematology Medical team (contact RD&E switchboard on 01392 411611)
4 days
Specimen Labelling Procedure
8210
