Exams and Tests

The healthcare provider will examine the patient and ask questions about symptoms. Although blood tests do not help diagnose phlebitis, they may help with screening to prove that a blood clot is not present.

D-dimer is a chemical that is released by blood clots as they start to disintegrate. If this blood test is normal, then a blood clot is not present. Unfortunately, the test does not tell you the location where a blood clot might reside. For instance, it will be positive in people with a bruise or those who have undergone recent surgery.

Ultrasound can detect clots or blockage of blood flow, especially in larger, more proximal (upper leg) veins. A small hand-held instrument (probe) is pressed against the patient's skin to help identify blood clots and the location of the obstruction. This is a non-invasive test which is relatively painless.