['The D-dimer assay is used as an exclusion test in the assessment of suspected venous thromboembolic disease; patients with a negative result have a low probability of thrombosis. We reviewed the D-dimer results from a hospital and community laboratory using the vidas D-dimer test to assess the influence of age on the D-dimer assay.', 'D-dimer results from 6631 unselected patients aged more than 16 years were analysed in four age groups and it was shown that the median D-dimer concentration increased with age (16-40 years, 294 ng/mL; 40-60 years, 387 ng/mL; 60-80 years; 854 ng/mL; >80 years, 1397 ng/mL). To test the effect of age on the assay specificity, a cohort of 1897 patients with suspected venous thromboembolic disease was analysed separately. Patients with a negative D-dimer were discharged without further investigation. Patients with a positive result and a clinical suspicion of thrombosis underwent further investigation. One hundred and sixty-five deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus cases were identified.', 'The assay specificity decreased with age from 70% in patients less than 40 years to below 5% in patients more than 80 years. Receiver operator curves were prepared for each age group and the effect of altering the threshold value was analysed. In patients 60-80 years old a threshold value of 1000 ng/mL increased assay specificity to 55% without loss of assay sensitivity.'] Does d-dimer concentration increase with age reducing the clinical value of the D-dimer assay in the elderly?