Anticardiolipin Antibodies (ACA), IgA, IgG, IgM, Quantitative
Also known as: Antiphospholipids, Cardiolipin Antibodies
Use
Anticardiolipin antibodies are often present in individuals with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.1,2
Special Instructions
Patients who test positive for ACA should be retested after six to eight weeks to rule out transient antibodies. ACA can also be observed in the convalescent phase of acute infections or in conditions like syphilis. Many transient ACA are not associated with APS, thus the diagnosis should not be based on a single ACA result. Retesting is important to establish persistence of antibodies.
Limitations
ACA can appear during acute bacterial or viral infections and in individuals with syphilis, often transient and not linked with increased clinical complication risk. Most are transient and don't indicate APS. False positives can occur, necessitating retesting for definitive diagnosis. Conditions like autoimmune disorders and malignancies can feature ACA, increasing APS risk. Drugs can induce ACA with potential clinical significance if persistent.
Methodology
Immunoassay (ELISA)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 3180-7
- 3181-5
- 3182-3
- 5076-5
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate
Causes for Rejection
Hemolysis; lipemia; icteric specimen
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 7 days |
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
| Frozen | 14 days |
