Diagnosing DVT

To determine if you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT), your doctor will take your medical history and check for signs of the condition, such as swelling, redness, and skin that’s warm to the touch. However, since 50% of people with DVT don’t have any symptoms¹, your doctor will likely order one or more of the following tests.

DVT Tests And diagnostics

Ultrasound: The most common test for diagnosing DVT, an ultrasound uses sound waves to detect a clot and determine whether blood is flowing properly in the affected area. Your doctor may recommend a series of ultrasounds over several days to find out if your clot is growing and to make sure a new clot hasn’t developed.

Venography: If the ultrasound doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis, your doctor may perform a venography test. He or she will inject a dye into the affected leg and take an x-ray to look for blood clots.

MRI or CT scans: Your doctor may use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans to take pictures of your organs and veins and determine if you have a clot.

Blood Tests: A d-dimer test measures a substance in your blood that is released when a blood clot breaks up or dissolves. Your doctor may recommend additional blood tests to find out if you have an inherited blood clotting disorder that can cause DVT