500 ng/mL) in more than 90% of patients with pulmonary embolism, reflecting plasmin's breakdown of fibrin and indicating endogenous (though clinically ineffective) thrombolysis.# However, the D-dimer assay is not specific and levels increase in patients with myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, sepsis, or almost any systemic illness.0# The plasma D-dimer ELISA has a high negative predictive value and can be used to help exclude Pulm embolism, for which it serves as AN EXCELLENT SCREENING TEST, with a sensitivity of 96.4% and negative predictive value of 99.6%.">