Question
Is a negative HIV test four weeks after PEP okay?
7 June 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing, PEP/PEPSE, Southern Africa.
Good day.
Is it possible to test positive after testing negative after completing 28 day of PEP?
Answer
Hi
In the UK, people need to wait 4 to 6 weeks after the last dose of PEP before taking a 4th generation HIV antigen/antibody test.
If this test is negative after 6 weeks, then someone is told they do not have HIV. If it is negative after 4 weeks, it means HIV is unlikely, but that a second test should confirm this after a few more weeks.
There is no point taking an HIV test as soon as you finish PEP.
This is because the PEP could just be covering up or delaying a potential infection.
This answer was updated in June 2023 from a question first posted in November 2020. This is because UK guidelines now recommend testing after 6 weeks rather than after 4 weeks.
Hi Ken
This link is to info about PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
If your symptoms were related to HIV your tests would be positive, and you coudl confirm this again.