Question
Is a negative HIV test four weeks after PEP okay?
7 June 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing, PEP/PEPSE, South 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 Erick, you keep posting comments but all the info to answer your Q’s are at the link I sent uou earlier about PEP – please take time to read this:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi doctor! , I exposed to HIV on 16 Dec 2023 I started pep(TLD) 13hrs after exposure which i took for 30 days. But after finishing pep on 16 Jan2024 I started to have symptoms like fever and rash and flu like symptoms. I took antibody test 4weeks after pep came back negative! But I steel having flu like symptoms until to day! which are fever, headache ( pain behind the eyes) ,night sweats and joint and muscle pain. I did final test yesterday on 16 April 2024 which is Antibody only test(3rd gen) on 13 weeks after pep and 17weeks after exposure, the results was Negative. specimen used was blood from the vein. Can this results change into positive after final results yesterday?
Hi Erick, everything we know about PEP. including to answer your Q is here:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-fa