What does a high D-dimer test result mean? If your results reveal that you have higher-than-normal levels of D-dimer in your blood, it may mean that you have a blood clotting condition. A D-dimer test can’t determine the type of blood clotting condition you may have or where the blood clot(s) is in your body.

If you’ve been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and are undergoing treatment, a high level of D-dimer in your blood most likely means that your treatment isn’t working well.

It’s possible to have high D-dimer levels without having a blood clotting condition. Other conditions and situations that can cause higher-than-normal levels of D-dimer to include:

• Pregnancy.
• Heart disease.
• Recent surgery.
• Trauma.
• Infection.

D-dimer levels also tend to rise in elderly people, and false-positive results may occur if you have rheumatoid arthritis.

If your results show abnormal D-dimer levels, your healthcare provider will likely have you undergo additional blood tests and/or imaging tests to determine a diagnosis.

When should I know the results of my D-dimer test?

In most cases, healthcare providers order D-dimer tests in emergency situations since blood clots can be life-threatening. If this scenario applies to you, your provider will likely have the results back within hours.

If you’ve had a D-dimer test to monitor the effectiveness of your treatment plan for a blood clotting condition, you’ll likely have the results back within one to two business days.

What are the next steps?

If your D-dimer test results were abnormal, your healthcare provider may have you undergo one or more imaging tests to find out if you have a blood clotting condition and where the blood clot(s) may be. Imaging tests include:

• Doppler ultrasound: This imaging test uses sound waves to create images of your veins.
• Computed tomography (CT) angiography: For this imaging test, a healthcare provider injects a special dye into one of your veins. This helps your blood vessels show up on a particular type of X-ray machine.
• Lung ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan: A lung VQ scan is an imaging test that uses a ventilation (V) scan to measure airflow in your lungs and a perfusion (Q) scan to see where blood flows in your lungs. Both tests use small and safe amounts of radioactive substances to help a scanning machine see how well air and blood move through your lungs.

Origin: Cleveland Clinic

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