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, how are you?
Is 40 days negative test post pep with 4th gen conclusive? Does the 2 days make any difference?
Thanks a lot
Hi Allen, as mentioned previously your result is conclusive. You do not have HIV and do not require any further tests.
Hi doc it’s Allen again. My test was negative 72 days after pep.105 days after initial exposure. I test using blood from finger can I say my results were conclusive I can move on
Hi Allen, your result is conclusive. You do not have HIV and require no further testing.
Testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi doc.i was exposed on 4th of July and midway pep on 14 and 15th of July. I did complete my pep on 30th July,I then tested negative using a fingerprick test on 15 September it was neg and on 11 October same type of test it was negative still but I’m still stressing. Is my result conclusive
Hi Gio, your test is conclusive. You do not have HIV.
After 42 days from your last dose of PEP, any 4th gen test will give you a conclusive result. You do not need to worry and you do not require any more tests.
Please see here for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hello I-base team . I had a risky exposure 85 days ago . I got on PEP within 16hours with a 3 meds regiment . I finished PEP as prescribed I never skipped a dose and took it within 10minites of the time I was supposed to . Today I got a 4th gen combo test and it came back negative . However guidelines in my country suggest that I have to take the ag/ab test at 90 days after exposure ,am I okay ? Should I finally fill relieved and move on ?(BTW testing at 90days wasn’t possible cause I won’t be in my country)
Hi Vincent, when only using a antibody test you will need to wait 12 weeks from the last dose of PEP. In total this is 112 days from the date of exposure.
Hello Mr Josh,, but here in our home country they use antibody test only…but then how long should I wait on this test to get the accurate result… I slept with a girl and then I took pep and I completed it ..combining pep dosage and window periods its exactly 98 days of antibody HIV test and the result came negative.. So am saying how long should I wait to confirme the results because am feeling body itchy and muscle pain with stabbing like and mouth pain especially on tongue for over a months now but the medication I get are not curing these diseases..
Hi vincent, you will need to wait 6 weeks after the last dose of PEP for your test to be accurate. You will need to test using a 4th generation antigen/antibody test. Testing before this will not give conclusive results.
Have you tried anything to help improve this pain? and has it changed over the last two weeks? If this pain is not going away and is still bad please speak to your doctor about it.