DVT EXCLUSION IN SYMPTOMATIC OUTPATIENTS - USE OF A RAPID D-DIMER IMMUNOFILTRATION ASSAY AND COMPARISON WITH 3 ENZYME IMMUNE ASSAYS

Many authors have shown that plasma measurement of the degradation pro ducts of cross-linked fibrin, D-dimer, may be able to identify patient s without DVT, Enzyme Immune assay (EIA) have shown the best performan ce characteristics with a sensitivity and a negative predictive value around 100%, These tests are time-consuming and therefor non applicabl e in the rapid exclusion of DVT, The immunofiltration test we have stu died showed a good correlation with three EIA tests of known performan ce characteristics. This test has a sensitivity and predictive negativ e value comparable to EIA but is more rapid and thus suitable as a rap id exclusion test for DVT.