Q and A

Question

Is a negative HIV test four weeks after PEP okay?

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.

Please see this link for more information about PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

Simon.

281 comments

  1. Simon Collins

    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.