D-dimer useful for excluding deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Although diagnostic tests often are good for both identifying and excluding disease, sometimes tests do one better than the other. A normal D-dimer test result can be relied upon to rule out suspected pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. It is not particularly helpful, by itself, to rule in the diagnosis. The results of this meta-analysis confirm an earlier meta-analysis (Ann Emerg Med 2002; 40:133–144). (LOE=1a)