A Retrospective Study of Adult and Pediatric D‐Dimer Tests to Identify Opportunities for Improved Utilization

INTRODUCTION: D-dimers are produced by lysis of cross-linked fibrin. In children, D-dimer testing is used to evaluate disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and some inflammatory states, but its use is not validated for screening or ruling out suspected venous thromboembolic events (VTE). In adults, D-dimers are used to evaluate DIC, and a low D-dimer level is used to exclude VTE in patients when combined with a low or moderate …