Anticardiolipin antibodies are often present in individuals with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. ACA can often be observed during the convalescent phase of acute bacterial and viral infections and in individuals with syphilis. These infection-induced antibodies are usually transient and are not associated with an increased risk of clinical complications. In general, all patients who test positive ACA should be retested after six to eight weeks to rule out transient antibodies that are usually of no clinical significance.