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The presence of significant amounts of glucose in the urine is called glycosuria (or glucosuria). The amount of glucose present in urine is dependent upon the blood glucose level, the rate of glomerular filtration, and the degree of tubular reabsorption of the sugar. Usually glucose will not be present in the urine until the blood level exceeds 160-189 mg/dl, which is the normal renal threshold for glucose. The main reason for glycosuria is an elevated blood glucose level, called hyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is the most common disease that causes hyperglycemia. However, stress, obesity, brain injury, myocardial infarction, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, and a lowered renal threshold due to kidney damage can all cause glycosuria.

The presence of D-dimers in plasma or whole blood indicates that fibrin has been formed and degraded (fibrinolysis). Plasmin can also degrade intact fibrinogen, generating fibrinogen degradation products that are detected in fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) assays. D-dimers and FDP can become elevated whenever the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems are activated. The presence of D-dimer confirms that both thrombin and plasmin have been generated since it can only be produced as the result of the plasmin degradation of fibrin. This makes the test for D-dimers more specific for fibrinolysis than the FDP test that also detects the products of the direct proteolysis of fibrinogen (fibrinogenolysis).The D-dimer test can be useful in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), two forms of venous thromboembolism (VTE). When the test is being used for this purpose, it is important that D-dimer levels are accurately measured and accurately reported because of the serious nature of this clinical decision. If the test is positive in a patient suspected to have DVT or PE, clinicians proceed with further diagnostic tests. If the test is negative, depending on the clinical situation and the sensitivity of the D-dimer assay, DVT or PE is considered unlikely and further diagnostic tests for DVT or PE might not be pursued. D-dimer is a sensitive, but not specific, diagnostic test for disseminated intravascular coagulation, and an indicator of increased risk of future myocardial infarction in patients evaluated for chest pain.