D-dimer is often an underutilized test in the evaluation and management of emergency roon patients.  This presentation focuses on the clinical use of D-dimer testing in the Emergency Department, particularly as it relates to the evaluation of possible venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis). Strengths and limitations of D-dimer, and novel ways of using this important test are also discussed.

• Understand epidemiology, clinical presentation and prognosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – the clinical condition for which D-dimer testing is most often considered.
• Understand how D-dimer testing is integrated with clinical assessment and other diagnostic tests in the workup of patients with possible VTE.
• Understand test characteristics of D-dimer assays, and how they are affected by pre-existing patient characteristics.