Why is a D-Dimer test good PRE-hospital discharge when you’re COVID +ve?

Check the link below. It’s ‘just’ a blood test!

Check out the associated conditions. Don’t go home without the reassurance of no DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or Pulmonary Emboli.

Pneumonia + COVID + Cancer= advocating for test to rule out emboli = D-DIMER

A D-Dimer test is used to warn of the possibility of a severe blood clot and diagnose certain conditions before they become life-threatening.

Can COVID Cause High D-Dimer Results?Yes, COVID-19 can cause elevated D-dimer levels. COVID is associated with an increased risk of blood clots. The D-dimer test is used to identify blood clots. One study found 15% of patients had elevated D-dimer levels three months after having a serious case of COVID.

[Lehmann A, Prosch H, Zehetmayer S, et al. doi.org/10.1371/journal…. PLoS One. 2021;16(10):e0258351. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0258351]