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When Do Doctors Prescribe the D-Dimer Test?

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  A D-dimer test can help doctors to determine the level of D-dimer protein in one's body. D-dimer is often undetectable at extremely low levels until one’s body develops and breaks down significant blood clots. A D-Dimer test can help identify if an individual has a blood clotting problem. However, it is not a clear indicator of the condition. A D-dimer test cannot tell you what kind of clotting condition you have or where the clotting is happening in your body. If there are high D-dimer levels in your blood, your doctor may do additional blood tests to reach a final diagnosis. The D-Dimer test is usually prescribed when a doctor suspects these conditions: Pulmonary embolism (PE) Pulmonary embolism can develop when a clot forms near the arteries of the lungs. It commonly happens when a blood clot gets stuck in another organ escapes and travels to the lungs. DVT clots are the most common cause of PE. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include: Dyspnoea, fast breathing, or sh