Assessment of D dimer assays for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

Sixty-two patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis were subjected to venography and to plasma D dimer assay by both rapid latex agglutination and enzyme immunoassay methods. The latex agglutination method was insensitive to the presence of deep vein thrombosis. In contrast, the enzyme immunoassay method was sensitive although of low specificity and for technical reasons not suitable for performance as an emergency test.