We have reviewed the D Dimer threshold after NICE introduced new guidelines in March 2020 to guide D-Dimer use in the investigations of VTE’s [NICE 2020, NG158].  

An audit was undertaken in Hinchingbrooke MAU and a study at Peterborough Pathology laboratory in 2021 and discussed at Thrombosis Committee . These have confirmed that we could move to a higher threshold for patients above the age of 50, reducing the need for CT and Ultrasound scans.

The advice, therefore is as follows:

‘’For patients aged 50 and over presenting with suspected VTE in line with NICE Guidance 2020, NG158: Please use clinical presentation, calculate the Wells score and consider an age adjusted cut-off threshold for D-Dimers (patient age x 5), instead of the stated cut-off value.’’