Question
Does PEP delay seroconversion?
24 December 2021. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Hi, I had an exposure in early October.
I took PEP (TDF + FTC + DTG) after 5 hours of the exposure. I did not accompany the doses with meals, I took them alone with water or some drink. Can this interfere or reduce its effectiveness?
Does PEP delay seroconversion in case of failure? At 5 weeks after finishing PEP swollen lymph glands in both armpit.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
PEP does have the potential to delay seroconversion.
As PEP works similar to medication used to manage HIV, PEP if unsuccessful can delay seroconversion.
This is why testing a minimum of 4 weeks after PEP is required. Seroconversion can occur 1-3 weeks after the course ends. Only 80% of those who do seroconvert in failed PEP will experience classical symptoms e.g., fatigue, fever, headache etc.
Five weeks after finishing PEP would be later than expected if this was really HIV. Swollen lymph nodes can arise from a number of infections, not only HIV. Is this symptom being managed by a doctor?
The combination you have taken can be consumed with or without food. This would not have impacted how well it worked as PEP.
If you have another question do ask,
Josh.
Hi its nkosi
I had sex with someone whose hiv positive it was dark but I didn’t notice anything if the condom raptured. Whilst I was removing the condom I wiped my penis with a tissue and I touched the condom and penis too. I want to know if I infected my self whilst wiping.
I freaked out 36 hours later I was giveng pep lamlvidine/ dolutegravir ,tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as one tablet for 30 days it’s been 4 months from the day I started taking pep after a month of finishing pep I had a bit of rash joint pain and muscle dry mouth and throat also was that serecoversion.
Hi Ben, please read the info linked here about HIV risk, especially the FAQ o you are less anxious about sex:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
In the UK you would not have been prescribed PEP because this isn’t needed.
Hi its ben again around end January I started having dry throat mouth and my knees elbows where hurting /having pain but for now I’m experiencing less pain like it’s not even there and I’m still experiencing a rash which not going away it is not much. Are these signs of serecoversion.
My story goes like this for u to understand i was exposed to someone with hiv I rubbed my penis around her vigina but not inside the hole vagina sorry to use the language
We had sex I used a condom but I touched the condom afterwards this happened on the 2of december around 20:00 the next day I went to the hospital I was given acriptega to prevent hiv I I started taking the medication around 23:00 that day.
Fast forward after almost 3 weeks my sister was having a bad flu I started having flu accompanied with sore throat and and heavy shoulders stiff neck which had small limp nodes which I cant even see on the mirror after a week and half the flu went away
Around 1-2 January finished my acriptega.
Hi Tommy, yes your result is conclusive. You do not have HIV. Other STDs do not have an affect on HIV tests. Please follow this link for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hello Josh. I had my last test (blood through vein) exactly 73 days after last dose of pep. Its negative. I also had one earlier like at 44 days and it was negative too.
1) Is this conclusive?
2) Can being exposed to other STDs in your lifetime such as syphilis, affect or delay test results?
3) Are all tests taken through blood in vein, 4th generation?
Thank you so much
Hi Kumar, there is no risk of transmission. As a condom was used there you did not need to be on PEP and the symptoms you are experiencing are not caused by HIV. Please follow this link for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hello Dr
Performed oral sex on a likely positive guy with condom. There was no ejaculation but not sure about his Precum. Then started TLD and completed the course. Three weeks after PEP, having headache, fever and sore throat all are mild. Developing pimple like rashes(single rash) in different parts of body which are healing in two to three days.
Should I be worried
Hi Mark, yes you can move the time of your medication. As this combination contains efavirenz, it is best to take this in the evening. You will be able to sleep through the side effects. It is uncommon to be given a PEP combination with efavirenz. Are you able to discuss with your doctor about switching. The side effects of this combination is why it is not routinely used.
Hi I’m on my 4th day on taking pep combination of (emtricitabine tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and efavirenz) and I’m taking it during 1430H but the side effects keeps getting me in trouble on doing my daily activities can I move the drinking time at 2200H that is before my sleeping time? I keep reading a lots of comments regarding this but I don’t know which one to follow.
Hi KK, it is best to consider the last dose of PEP, the first day of exposure. This means that a 3rd generation can not give an accurate result until at least 90 days after PEP. This is because PEP can delay seroconversion and how the tests work, some results may not be accurate. A 4th generation test will be accurate from 6 weeks after because it looks for different things caused by HIV.
No. A 4th generation test is conclusive from 6 weeks. No one has tested positive after this having been on PEP previously. Please follow this link for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing Outside of this i-base does not have further information about testing as we are a treatment service. Where are you based? In the UK you can contact the Terrance Higgins trust and they would be able to offer more suitable information: https://www.tht.org.uk/contact-us