Comparison of immunofiltration assay of plasma D‐dimer with diagnostic imaging in deep vein thrombosis

This prospective study was designed to assess the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the NycoCard D‐dimer plasma immunofiltration assay in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) confirmed by ultrasonography/venography. 84 medical patients were recruited: 43 patients (51%) had proven venous thrombosis, 33 by venography and 10 by ultrasonography. The sensitivity of NycoCard D‐dimer in patients with DVT was 95.3%, the specificity was 22.0% and the negative predictive value was 81.8%. An algorithm including the NycoCard D‐dimer test for the acute management of DVT is proposed. This would enable low‐risk patients to be discharged early from hospital, without imaging or anticoagulant therapy.