Urgent PEP consult by phone with a Specialist GP, anywhere in Australia. PEP can prevent HIV after a possible exposure, but it must start within 72 hours — the sooner the better.
The GP assesses the exposure, arranges PEP, and organises follow-up testing. Same-day urgent appointments, usually within hours.
Must start within 72 hours of exposure
Same-day urgent appointments — usually within hours
Pathology tests covered by Medicare and most Private Health Insurers.
Emergency PEP
PEP must start within 72 hours of HIV exposure to work, and the sooner the better. Effectiveness is highest within 24 hours and drops the longer you wait. It cannot wait for a routine appointment. If you cannot reach us in time, go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department.
PEP is for a single exposure, not for ongoing risk. It is a 28-day course taken after a possible exposure. If your exposure pattern is ongoing — multiple partners, condomless sex with someone whose HIV status is unknown or detectable — PrEP (taken before exposure) is the more reliable long-term option, and the Specialist GP can transition you straight from PEP to PrEP at the end of the course.
What PEP is. Post-exposure prevention is a 28-day course of HIV antiretrovirals taken after a possible HIV exposure to prevent infection. It works by stopping the virus establishing itself before it can replicate. The Specialist GP works through the exposure on the call and arranges treatment on the same call where it is indicated.
The 72-hour clock. Effectiveness drops sharply with delay. Within 24 hours of the exposure, PEP is at its most effective; by 72 hours it is at the edge of clinical benefit, and beyond 72 hours it is no longer recommended. The exact start time matters — not just the date. Note the time of the possible exposure and contact us immediately, day or night. Outside business hours, also consider going directly to a hospital emergency department.
How to access PEP through Clinic365. Book a telehealth consult online or call 1300 222 365. A Specialist GP works through the exposure, assesses HIV risk, and where PEP is indicated arranges the 28-day course on the same call. Same-day arrangements are usual within business hours. Outside hours, our on-call service or a hospital emergency department is the right path.
Who needs PEP, and who does not. PEP is recommended after exposures with meaningful HIV risk: condomless sex with a partner known to be HIV-positive with detectable virus, or with a partner of unknown HIV status from a higher-risk group; sharing injection equipment; needlestick injuries with known HIV-positive source. PEP is not usually recommended where the source partner is HIV-negative, on PrEP, or known to have undetectable viral load on treatment. The Specialist GP walks through your specific exposure to make the call.
The 28-day course. A daily oral regimen taken for 28 days. Most cases use a single combined daily dose. Completing the full 28 days is essential — stopping early reduces effectiveness and may allow infection to establish. Set a daily reminder and plan around the course (alcohol is usually fine in moderation; food helps with nausea).
Side effects. Modern PEP regimens are well-tolerated. The most common issues are nausea (usually mild and settling after the first week), fatigue, headache, and loose stools. Take with food to reduce nausea. Significant side effects are uncommon; if anything is concerning, the Specialist GP is reachable during the course to switch regimens or manage symptoms.
Baseline and follow-up testing. A baseline blood test at the start checks HIV status (to confirm you are HIV-negative before starting), hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and kidney/liver function. Follow-up HIV testing happens at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after exposure to confirm PEP has worked. A full STI screen is also offered at baseline given many exposures carry STI risk alongside HIV.
From PEP to PrEP. If your exposure pattern is likely to be ongoing, the Specialist GP can transition you directly from PEP to PrEP at the end of the 28-day course, with no gap in HIV protection. The transition consult is included.
Cost. With Medicare, the Specialist GP consult is bulk-billed and pathology tests are covered by Medicare — STI testing is free. Without Medicare, the consult is $59 and additional lab fees may apply — most Private Health Insurers cover the lab tests; check with the lab you attend. If you test positive, the treatment consult is bulk-billed for Medicare card holders or $59 without. If you are worried about the cost of the 28-day course itself, discuss this with the Specialist GP on the call.
Frequently asked questions
From the moment of exposure (the sexual act, the needle-stick, the condom failure) — not from when you noticed something might be wrong. The sooner within those 72 hours you start, the better. Effectiveness is highest within 24 hours and drops as time passes; by 72 hours, PEP is no longer recommended. See The 72-hour clock.
Same-day. Phone consults are usually available within an hour or two of booking during the day. Mention the urgency at booking — there are priority pathways for PEP. The Specialist GP works through the exposure, decides whether PEP is recommended, arranges treatment, and gets you started. See How to access PEP.
If you are within the 72-hour window and cannot wait for a Clinic365 appointment, go to your nearest hospital Emergency Department. Tell triage clearly that you need PEP for HIV exposure so the time-sensitivity is understood. The 72-hour clock matters more than which provider starts the course.
No — not every exposure needs PEP. The Specialist GP applies the standard HIV transmission risk matrix considering: sexual act type (receptive anal sex highest risk), source partner's HIV status (known positive vs unknown vs known negative; if positive on treatment with undetectable viral load, transmission risk is effectively zero per U=U science), time since exposure, and other factors. PEP is recommended for high-risk exposures, considered for moderate-risk, and generally not recommended for low-risk. See Does this exposure need PEP?
A 28-day combination PEP course per current Australian PEP guidelines — typically a two-NRTI backbone plus an integrase-class anchor agent. The exact choice depends on the source patient's likely resistance profile, your renal function, drug interactions, and pregnancy status if applicable. The Specialist GP works through the choice with you. Continuous adherence for the full 28 days is essential — stopping early is the single most common reason PEP fails. See The 28-day course.
Standard baseline tests at PEP initiation: HIV antigen/antibody test, hepatitis B blood test (surface antigen, surface antibody, core antibody), syphilis blood test, renal function (creatinine and eGFR — some PEP regimens are renally cleared), full blood count, and chlamydia/gonorrhoea/Mgen swabs or urine test depending on exposure. The referral is sent at the consult and samples can be collected at any Australian pathology lab. See Baseline and follow-up.
HIV testing at 4–6 weeks post-PEP-completion and at 3 months. Hepatitis B blood test at 3 months if your baseline immunity status was uncertain. STI re-test if baseline was positive or symptoms emerge. Follow-up consults are arranged at the time of initial PEP — you don't have to remember to come back.
If your exposure pattern suggests ongoing HIV risk (multiple new partners, partner of unknown status, sex without consistent condom use), PrEP is the right transition. PrEP discussion is recommended at every PEP visit. The Specialist GP can transition you straight from PEP to PrEP at day 28 after a final HIV test confirms negative status. See PrEP online for ongoing prevention.
Modern PEP regimens are far better tolerated than older PEP. The most common side effects are nausea, mild diarrhoea, and fatigue, usually in the first week or two and settling as the body adjusts. Headache and disturbed sleep also occur for some patients. Severe side effects are uncommon but include rash, deranged liver function tests, and renal effects in patients with pre-existing kidney disease. Stopping doses early is the most common reason PEP fails — complete all 28 days. See Side effects.
Pathology tests are covered by Medicare and most Private Health Insurers. The Specialist GP phone consult (free with Medicare, $59 without) covers the Specialist GP visit and PEP arrangement. See Cost.
