Article Text
Diagnosis
A negative quantitative latex d-dimer assay helped to rule out venous thromboembolism
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QUESTION: In patients with suspected venous thromboembolism (VTE) (ie, deep venous thrombosis [DVT] or pulmonary embolism [PE]), can a quantitative latex d-dimer assay rule out VTE?
Design
Blinded comparison of the results of the latex d-dimer test (MDA d-Dimer, Organon Teknika Corporation, Durham, NC, USA) with objective testing done at presentation and during follow up (3 mo).
Setting
4 tertiary care university medical centres in Ontario, Canada.
Patients
595 patients (60% women) with suspected VTE (317 with suspected DVT and 278 with suspected PE).
Description of tests and diagnostic standards
All patients had a clinical examination and were classified into low, intermediate, or high probability categories according to a previously validated model. Patients with suspected DVT …