Classic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) D-dimer assays are sensit
ive in screening for thromboembolic disease; however, they are cumbersome a
nd time consuming to perform, which limits their routine use. Latex aggluti
nation assays are easier to perform, but they are not as sensitive as the E
LISA assays. New D-dimer assays incorporating novel technologies can be per
formed rapidly with a sensitivity approaching that of classic ELISA assays.
D-dimer assays are uniformly sensitive in detecting thromboembolic disease
in different patient populations; however, low specificity limits the clin
ical utility of D-dimer measurements in medical Inpatients and postoperativ
e patients. Increasingly, these measurements are being incorporated into di
agnostic algorithms for venous thromboembolism and are reducing the need fo
r invasive diagnostic studies.