A Latex Agglutination Assay for D Dimer: Evaluation and Application to the Diagnosis of Thrombotic Disease

Although latex agglutination assays have been used for some years to diagnose thrombotic disorders, only recently has it been possible to measure specifically the products of fibrin breakdown in the presence of fibrinogen degradation products, by using monoclonal antibodies. We have evaluat-ed a preparation of latex particles coupled to the monoclonal antibody DD-3B6/22, which is specific for cross-linked fibrin degradation products (XDP) and allows accurate discrimina-tion between normal and pathological conditions. Of samples from 515 apparently healthy volunteers, 97.7 % failed to agglutinate the latex; the normal reference interval for XDP determined by enzyme immunoassay was <78-320 p.g/L. The use of different anticoagulants with or without the addition of a protease inhibitor had no significant effects on the results of the latex assay. The latex preparation provide