General Health, Recommended

Understanding the D-Dimer Test Price

Medically reviewed by Dr Rohan J Harsoda – MBBS, DNB(General Surgery)

Written by Jigar Patel

Breaking down blood clots is an important process in our body that stops harmful clots from forming in our blood vessels. The key player in this process is a protein called D-dimer, which forms when another protein involved in clot formation breaks down. D-dimer levels in our blood can show if the breakdown of clots is happening, with higher levels indicating more breakdown. Checking D-dimer is crucial in medical situations, like diagnosing and managing issues such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. Special tests on blood samples help monitor these protein levels, supporting doctors in identifying and managing clotting disorders to improve patient health.

What is a D-dimer Test?

D-dimer, a protein crucial for the body’s healing process, plays a role in clotting blood to stop bleeding or close damaged vessels after an injury. Following this, other proteins break down the clot, leaving behind D-dimer fragments in the blood. Typically, these fragments dissolve naturally over time. However, if a clot persists or forms again, D-dimer levels in the blood can rise. Occasionally, blood clots may form even without a clear injury, signaling a potential blood clotting disorder that poses serious risks.

Doctors use a D-Dimer test to find out if there are blood clots in your body, which can indicate a problem with clotting. You might need this test if you have symptoms like swelling, pain, or redness in your legs, trouble breathing, coughing (especially if you cough up blood), a fast heartbeat, chest pain, or sweating. Sometimes, the test is also used to see how well the treatment is working for these conditions. Additionally, the D-dimer test helps assess the risk and progression of conditions like pneumonia and COVID-19.

What is a D-dimer Test Used For?

Doctors usually use D-dimer tests to figure out if someone has a problem with blood clotting. This can include conditions like:

Deep vein thrombosis: This is when a blood clot forms deep in your body, often in your leg. It can block the blood flow in the vein.
Pulmonary embolism (PE): This is a blood clot in your lung. It happens when a clot from another part of your body travels to your lung through your blood.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): DIC causes too many blood clots in your body, leading to organ damage. Besides diagnosing DIC, doctors use D-dimer tests to check how well DIC treatment is working.
Stroke: A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in your brain is blocked or bursts, causing a “brain attack.”

How is a D-Dimer Blood Test Done?

Alright, so when you go for a D-dimer blood test, it’s a simple process. The doctor takes a little blood from your arm and sends it off to a lab. Results usually come back in a few days, unless it’s urgent – then you might hear back within a few hours. The cool part is, there’s nothing special you need to do before the test. Just be ready for a quick sting when the needle goes in. And oh, don’t forget to press down on the spot after they take the blood. That’s it!

What is the Cost of D-dimer Test in India?

The price of a D-dimer test in India can differ from one diagnostic center to another. On average, the basic cost is around INR 1000. Check out the table below to find out more about the costs in different cities in India.

City	Avg. Price(Rs.)	Starting Price(Rs.)	Price Upto(Rs.)
Agra	920	500	1500
Ahmedabad	600	300	960
Aurangabad	1100	800	1500
Bangalore	1400	200	3800
Belgaum	800	700	1600
Bharuch	750	500	900
Chandigarh	1300	800	2000
Chennai	1000	500	1800
Coimbatore	800	500	1000
Ghaziabad	900	600	1300
Gurgaon	1394	1100	1900
Guwahati	1671	1200	2000
Gwalior	1167	1000	1450
Howrah	1165	900	1400
Hyderabad	1300	450	2500
Indore	1000	150	1500
Jaipur	1588	500	6000
Jodhpur	940	600	1500
Kanpur	1159	500	1500
Kochi	1084	700	1500
Kolkata	1231	600	1500
Kota	1222	600	2000
Kurnool	725	550	900
Lucknow	1438	700	2500
Madurai	1019	450	2500
Mohali	980	650	1500
Mumbai	1170	630	1600
Nagpur	978	600	1200
Nashik	1070	600	2200
Navi Mumbai	1350	1100	2500
Delhi	1150	100	2025
Noida	1318	950	2500
Patna	1208	700	1950
Pondicherry	1169	450	1500
Pune	1113	400	2800
Raipur	1085	500	2000
Ranchi	1237	950	1500
Salem	751	275	1450
Secunderabad	1151	650	1500
Siliguri	1239	900	1740
Solapur	775	450	1250
Srikakulam	1190	1000	1400
Srinagar	790	650	900
Thane	1191	1000	1450
Thiruvananthapuram	950	800	1200
Tirupati	1362	1100	1500
Vadodara	615	400	1000
Valsad	1000	1000	1000
Varanasi	1089	500	1500
Vijayawada	911	550	1400
Visakhapatnam	1074	400	1850

Factors Affecting the Cost of D-Dimer Test

The cost of a D-Dimer test can be influenced by a few things:

Lab Prices: Different labs have different costs based on their equipment and how they operate. Bigger, more advanced labs might charge more than smaller ones.
Where You Are: The cost can change depending on whether you’re in a big city or a smaller town. Usually, big cities with higher living costs have more expensive medical services.
Type of Place: Hospitals, clinics, or standalone labs might charge differently. For example, a hospital might cost more than a private lab because running a hospital comes with extra expenses.

D-Dimer Reference Range and Interpreting Results

If you take or have taken the D-dimer test, you can compare the results with the normal range, which is < 250 ng/mL or < 0.5 mcg/mL. There are two outcomes:

Negative Result: If your D-dimer levels are below a certain value, it means you probably don’t have a serious condition or a problem with abnormal blood clots.
Positive Result: If your D-dimer levels are high, it could suggest there might be a significant blood clot in your body. This result indicates the presence of abnormally high levels of fibrin degradation products.

If your D-dimer test results aren’t in the normal range, your doctor might order more tests to check for a clotting disorder. These additional tests include:

Doppler Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to create images of your veins.
CT Angiography: You’ll get injected with a special dye to help your blood vessels show up on a particular type of x-ray machine.
Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan: These two tests, done separately or together, use small amounts of radioactive substances to see how well air and blood move through your lungs.

Conclusion

Alright, we’ve covered the basics of D-dimer tests – why they’re important, what they’re used for, and even the costs. Remember, it’s not just about finding problems; it’s about taking charge of your health. If you want to keep track of your results and stay on top of your health game, why not download a Personal Health Record (PHR) app? We recommend you to try the Health-e app – your all-in-one health buddy. Stay healthy, stay informed!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Is Fasting Necessary for D-Dimer Test?

It’s recommended to avoid eating for 8-12 hours before taking the D-Dimer test. Make sure to fill out the coagulation requisition form for sample collection, and inform your doctor about any medications you’re on, as they could affect the test results.

2. When do I Need a D-Dimer test?

If you’re showing symptoms of a blood clotting condition(suspected DVT, PE, DIC, or monitoring existing clotting disorders), your doctor might suggest a D-Dimer test.

3. What Symptoms Might be Linked to High D-dimer Levels?

High D-dimer levels could indicate swelling, pain, and changes in the skin colour of your leg or arm. Other symptoms include sharp pain in your chest area, breathing problems, coughing up blood, or a fast heartbeat.

4. What Causes an Increase in D-dimer Levels?

Any clot in the body can make D-dimer levels rise. After an injury, the body usually breaks down the clot with other proteins. If the clot doesn’t dissolve after an injury heals, it can lead to higher D-dimer levels.

5. What Happens After D-dimer Test?

Once your blood sample is collected, it goes to a lab for testing. Your healthcare provider will share the results with you once they’re ready.

6. How Long Does it Take to Get D-dimer Test Results?

The D-Dimer test is a standard blood test. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours from the time your blood is collected for the results to be ready.

7. Are there Risks to a D-dimer Test?

A D-dimer test is generally safe, but there are some minor risks, like discomfort at the injection site (bruising, bleeding), feeling faint, or infection. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.

Jigar Patel is the Founder of Health-e, a HealthTech app that simplifies health records management along with providing personalized and preventative healthcare solutions. Although he has 20+ years of operations and management experience in the EPC domain, Jigar’s true passion lies in making healthcare simpler, faster and more accessible for doctors and patients alike. He strongly believes that people need to be empowered to participate in their own healthcare and is constantly thinking of ways to build this into his app. He loves to keep things simple be it in life, product design, his work or the content he develops. Being married for 10 years and having 2 kids have taught him that perspective matters, so you can always count on him to share new perspectives on various topics.

Last medically reviewed on March 1, 2024