Coagulation Studies

D-Dimer

Q: What is the normal range for D-Dimer?

The standard teaching reference range for D-Dimer is < 0.5 (negative) µg/mL FEU in conventional units, or < 0.5 mg/L FEU in SI units. This value is measured in plasma (sodium citrate). Reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, and population - always use the range printed on the actual result.

Q: What causes a high D-Dimer?

Common causes of a high D-Dimer: Venous thromboembolism (DVT/PE); DIC; Recent surgery or trauma; Pregnancy and advanced age.

Normal range < 0.5 (negative) µg/mL FEU (< 0.5 mg/L FEU SI). Specimen: Plasma (sodium citrate).

Also known as: fibrin degradation fragment.

< 0.5 (negative) µg/mL FEUReference range

Reference range

This result is reported qualitatively or as a one-sided threshold rather than a two-sided numeric band.

Combined adult band. LabVals does not publish separate men's, women's, or pediatric ranges for D-Dimer; those can be narrower than the band shown.

D-Dimer reference range, specimen, and conversion details
Specimen	Plasma (sodium citrate)
Conventional range	< 0.5 (negative) µg/mL FEU
SI range	< 0.5 mg/L FEU
Conversion factor	×1 (conventional → SI)
Panel	Coagulation Studies

Convert any D-Dimer result between units on the unit converter.

What is the normal range for D-Dimer?

The standard teaching reference range for D-Dimer is < 0.5 (negative) µg/mL FEU in conventional units, or < 0.5 mg/L FEU in SI units. This value is measured in plasma (sodium citrate).

Source: Adult reference values compiled from Pagana & Pagana, Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, and Fischbach & Dunning, A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, and population - always use the range printed on the actual result.

Above the range

What causes a high D-Dimer?

Venous thromboembolism (DVT/PE)
DIC
Recent surgery or trauma
Pregnancy and advanced age

What causes a high D-Dimer? Read as its own page

At the bedside

Nursing considerations

High sensitivity, low specificity - most useful to rule OUT clot when negative.
Many benign conditions raise it, so a positive result needs imaging to confirm.

PremiumDrill the Coagulation Studies deck

You have the D-Dimer range. Premium unlocks the 7-card Coagulation Studies flashcard deck with mastery tracking, study sheets that put several panels on one printable page, and unlimited practice across all 440 quiz questions - the free round stops at 10 a day.

See Premium plans Free: the whole Coagulation Studies panel

Same panel

More Coagulation Studies tests

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)25-35 seconds Bleeding Time2-7 minutes Fibrinogen200-400 mg/dL International Normalized Ratio (INR)0.8-1.1 (off anticoagulation) ratio Prothrombin Time (PT)11-13.5 seconds Thrombin Time14-19 seconds