D-dimer blood test in Chiswick
A D-dimer blood test measures a fragment released when a blood clot breaks down. In a clinic setting it is a specialist follow-up marker reviewed with a practitioner, not a way to check urgent symptoms of a clot.
What the test measures
When the body forms a blood clot and then begins to dissolve it, a protein fragment called D-dimer is released into the blood. Small amounts are normal, because the body is constantly forming and breaking down tiny clots. Higher amounts suggest more clotting activity than usual somewhere in the body.
Please note: this test is not for urgent symptoms. If you have chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing up blood, or a painful, swollen, warm calf or leg, call 999 or go to A&E straight away rather than booking a test. In the NHS, D-dimer is used alongside a clinical assessment and scans to look for deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and that assessment must happen urgently.
The price includes the blood sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result with you, and a GP feedback report on request.
Who it is for
- Your doctor or practitioner has asked for a non-urgent D-dimer as part of ongoing follow-up.
- You have previously had a clot and are being monitored by your care team.
- You are building a wider picture of clotting and circulation alongside other markers.
- You want a baseline value to share with your GP for future reference.
Understanding your result
Your report shows your D-dimer with the laboratory reference range. D-dimer is very sensitive but not specific: as well as a clot, it can be raised by recent surgery or injury, infection, inflammation, pregnancy, liver disease, some cancers and simply older age. A raised result on its own therefore does not mean you have a clot.
A value inside the range makes significant active clotting less likely, but it is always interpreted with your symptoms and history. Any result outside the range is a prompt for discussion, and your practitioner will advise on next steps, including urgent care if appropriate.
Preparing for your test
No fasting is needed. Let us know if you take anticoagulants such as warfarin, apixaban or rivaroxaban, as these can lower D-dimer, and tell us about recent surgery, injury, infection or pregnancy. If you develop leg swelling, chest pain or breathlessness before your appointment, do not attend: call 999 or go to A&E.
D-dimer is one of the clotting markers in Omnia Signature, which looks at heart, circulation and many other systems. You can also see every blood test and price in Chiswick.
Questions
How much is a D-dimer test in Chiswick?
A D-dimer blood test at Omnia Lifestyle costs £79. This includes the sample at our Chiswick clinic, laboratory analysis, a practitioner review of your result and a GP feedback report on request.
I think I might have a blood clot. Should I book this?
No. A suspected clot needs urgent medical assessment the same day. Call 999 or go to A&E, or call NHS 111 if you are unsure. This test is for non-urgent follow-up only.
Why might my D-dimer be raised if I do not have a clot?
Many things raise D-dimer, including recent operations, infections, inflammation, pregnancy and increasing age. That is why it is read with your practitioner and not on its own.
Can D-dimer diagnose a clot?
No. It can only show that clotting and clot breakdown are more active than usual. Diagnosis of a clot relies on a clinical assessment and imaging such as an ultrasound or CT scan.
