Q and A

Question

I have a question about PEP?

I had PEP and after 2 weeks I had stomach pain and diarrhea. Is this seroconversion stage?

Answer

Hi there

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

We give this answer to all Qs about PEP because we made sure this page covers everything we get asked.

We also update this page if we do get a Q that isn’t covered there already.

20 comments

  1. Simon Collins

    Hi Binh, thanks – all thee Qs are discussed in the info on PEP here:
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  2. Bình

    Hello! I know each country will accept different levels of risk after the recommended time after pep and above you all follow that, right?
    Another issue I want to know is if there are suspected acute symptoms such as fever, should the viral load be tested at that time or is there a gap between the time of symptoms and the test? If we consider a negative viral load, can we definitely rule out hiv causing those symptoms? Can Pep suppress the virus and still have symptoms?
    Please please help me!

  3. Simon Collins

    Dear Bình, i-Base is a UK project and the information is based on UK guidelines. If you want to follow US guidelines then wait 8 rather than 6 weeks. I don’t think there is much difference but agree it must be frustrating when similar guidelines make slightly different recommendations.

  4. Bình

    I have read the documents you provided many times. But on this website, it says the 4th generation test after 6 weeks after the last dose of Pep is conclusive, but according to the CDC, it is 8 weeks, some experts say. hiv says only conclusion After 12 weeks from the last dose of pep. what I’m talking about is the 4th generation test. why is there such a difference? And you say Pep can delay seroconversion, so how long can it be delayed?
    I was re-tested 11 weeks after the last dose of pep with rna and 4th generation lab viral load tests both negative and unexpressed, am I conclusive? and the symptoms of I am not related to hiv?
    Please help. Do I have to get tested again?

  5. Simon Collins

    Hi Binh, please see this link for info on PEP.
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  6. Bình

    Hello!
    Please help me what to do next… I had oral sex and I kissed her when I had gingivitis.I took pep after 18 hours and finished it seriously tested for HIV RNA and 4th generation 58 days after the last dose of pep.but from that day I encountered symptoms such as high fever 38.5*C and chills with persistent cough.i repeated the fourth generation test after 72 days After the last dose of Pep, the results were also negative and another rapid test arere combo ag\ab on the 75th day showed no reaction. Now I have swollen lymph nodes and it hurts my ears. I don’t know. what to do when hiv symptoms started appearing 8 weeks after the last dose of pep and have continued until now. it has been 100 days since exposure! please advise me what to do next to confirm
    Thank you

  7. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Binh, after 4 weeks the result is 95% accurate. It is very unlikely that your follow-up test at 6 weeks will be HIV positive.

  8. Bình

    Hello Josh!
    Like the question I asked you last time! It’s now 5 weeks after the last dose of pep and I tested negative for the 4th generation ag/ad. I know I have to test again to get the final results. The question I want to ask you is with the results like this. So what is the possibility of change after 1 week?
    Thank you!

  9. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Binh, for more information about testing please see here:
    https://i-base.info/guides/testing

  10. Bình

    Hi Josh!
    Can you tell me whether the viral load test on the cobas 6800 system is HIV RNA PCR? and whether the viral load is RNA heart? Can I expect that result 4 weeks after the last dose of Pep?