A client presents to the emergency department with suspected pulmonary embolism. What blood test can help assess the likelihood of pulmonary embolism and its severity?

A) Incorrect. Mild shortness of breath during activities may not be unusual, but sudden or severe shortness of breath should be reported.

B) Correct. Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing may indicate a worsening of the pulmonary embolism and should be reported immediately.

C) Incorrect. Mild swelling in the ankles is not typically a sign of a pulmonary embolism. However, severe leg swelling or pain should be evaluated.

D) Incorrect. An occasional cough with clear sputum is not necessarily a sign of a pulmonary embolism. However, if the cough becomes severe or is associated with other symptoms, it should be reported.

A) Incorrect. A complete blood count (CBC) provides information about the composition of blood cells but is not specific to pulmonary embolism.

B) Incorrect. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis helps assess oxygen and carbon dioxide levels but is not a primary test for diagnosing pulmonary embolism.

C) Correct. The D-dimer assay measures a substance released when a blood clot breaks up. Elevated D-dimer levels can suggest the presence of a blood clot, but it is not specific to pulmonary embolism.

D) Incorrect. Creatine kinase (CK) levels are used to assess muscle damage and are not a primary test for diagnosing pulmonary embolism.