Question
Can I test while I am on PEP?
9 January 2022. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV testing, HIV transmission, PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.
I had an exposure through an unprotected sexual encounter at which I was the insertive (top), lots of lubricants were used, and there were no ejaculations nor blood. My partner was informed that he tested positive on the second day and later knew that his viral load is less than 20,000 copies/mL. I started PEP on Thursday night (8 pm) with only Truvada (39 hours later) then started having Tivicay as well from Friday night (8 pm). I had a strong headache for a couple of days, and a fluctuating low-grade fever throughout the day. Furthermore, I am generally sleepy and I do sleep from 8 to 12 hours every day since I started PEP.
I tested for HIV AG/AB on Sunday’s night (December 26th, 2021), and the results were negative, I know it does not indicate anything relevant to the exposure but did it as baseline information. Now after 15 days the low-grade fever is back, so far maximum 37.5C, and commonly some hours (3 or 4) after taking my pills, and I can feel a lymph node under my jaw on the left side. Am I seroconverting?
I am too stressed and I cannot do anything apart from worry. Are there any tests I can do at the moment to know my status? I know I should be following up with a doctor but where I live there is a high stigma against homosexuality and HIV so I don’t dare to follow up with a doctor. Your support will be highly appreciated, as I am totally by myself in all of this.
Answer
Hi M,
How are you doing? Starting PEP as early as you did means you are within the time frame for it to be most effective. Also, being the ‘top’ further reduces your risk, as does not ejaculating and there being no presence of blood. Using lubrication further reduces risk as it reduces the risk of abrasion from friction. These factors means it is very unlikely you will test positive for HIV.
As you have mentioned, a test while on PEP is not accurate. This is because PEP can ‘mask’ HIV and will not give a true representation of your status. To be sure you will need to wait 6 weeks until after your course to know your status. In the meantime, this guide discusses feelings of fear and anxiety while awaiting results.
The symptoms you have mentioned are possible signs of seroconversion. Also they are signs of many other infections. Due to how non-specific symptoms are for HIV, it is impossible to say if you are seroconverting. If these symptoms are in association with the time you take PEP, it is more likely a side effect of the medication.
I am sorry to hear that you are in this alone. Do you have any family/friends that you are able to discuss this with? The Terrance Higgin’s Trust in the UK offer an email service that may be suitable in this instance. It is unfortunate to hear about the lack of support you are having from your doctors, but if you become increasingly concerned with your health you need to make sure you speak to them. This is the only way you can be sure of your current state of health.
Please see this link for more information about PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
If you have any further questions please get in touch.
Josh.
Hi Stev, most people only use PEP for one month.
Perhaps your partner is on PrEP, which you could also consider.
I have stayed with a woman for 2months now didn’t know she’s on peps could be at risk of contracting the disease??
Hi Poomy, please seee this link to info about PEP that answers this Q:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi I finished my pep pills and now after 2 weeks I am having sore throat only. Could it be signs of HIV?
Hi Blank, please see thi link on PEP to see why starting this late will not make any difference:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
hi, please i need to know.. i had contact with someone for brief moments and there was enough lubrication and didnt ejaculate but later forced myself to and urinated afterwards. After 17 days, i tested and it came back negative but i then started on pep.
I tested again after 23 days while on PEP and it was still negative.
Yesterday was day 38 after exposure and still on pep, i tested and it still came back negative.
Should i be worried.. i asked her and she said she wasnt positive but recommended i took antifugal drugs.
The lab person and another doctor said i started the pep late and if i was really having it, the test would have showed positive at least even faint because the pep reduces viral load and not changing of status
What do you think??
Hi Noly – any positive HIV test needs to be confirmed in a laboratory – please see here:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
Hello
I went to the doctor and tested, the results came back after some weeks , negative .
Since then I have not been in sexual activities for the past 7 months. Recently my vagina started to itch. I went to the clinic and
tested positive and’s was give Reydin tablets to take for 28 days.
I’m on my third day on them.
I want to know if those tablets work as pep?
Should I continue using them or I should stop and an go back to my doctor to confirm the results?
If I’m on this treatment, can the results be accurate?
Hi Henderson, when you did this oraquick test did you check the result within the time frame recommended?
Had you been prescribed the malaria treatment after testing negative?
More information about testing can be found here: https://i-base.info/guides/testing
Hie, my name is Henderson Parker, I have unprotected sex with HIV positive partner unknowingly around 8pm, I started PEP the following day around 9pm, after less than 8 days, I started experiencing strange symptoms such joint weakness, high fevers, general body weakness, dry cough. I taste for malaria and it was negative, of course I just started malaria treatment for 3 days and cough treatment. I am now troubled with cough, it’s not ending. I had HIV self test today using Oraq quick HIV test, which shows negative results after 15 minutes, that was in the morning, i left the test at a safer place until evening around 7pm, when i checked the test again it showed me positive results with very very faint line. I’m worried, could the test results be true? Or what is the meaning of this ?