HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) refers to the taking of a course of Antiretroviral (ARV) medication after a recent high risk exposure (usually within 72 hours) to minimise the risk or to prevent HIV infection or transmission. HIV PEP is available at Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic.
HIV PEP is recommended when there is:
1) high-risk sexual exposure (any unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, receptive oral intercourse with ejaculation) with:
2) sharing of or exposure to contaminated needles or blades, particularly needle-stick injuries
3) exposure to contaminated blood or semen or genital fluids, especially through open wounds and cuts, sores and ulcers
In such situations, HIV PEP is highly recommended and can help to prevent the transmission of HIV and AIDS.
Generally, exposures to saliva, urine, tears and sweat are not thought to be infectious, and the risk of HIV transmission from splashes of contaminated fluids to mucosal surface or non-intact skin has not been accurately quantified.
Have you been exposed to HIV? Did your condom break? Did you have risky sex with a high risk partner? Do a HIV test today to be safe. If your exposure risk for HIV is within the window period of 72 hours, it is also possible to prevent the transmission and spread of HIV via HIV PEP as well. HIV PEP is available at Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic. Book a consultation today.
Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic is also an approved Anonymous HIV Test (AHT) Clinic by the Ministry of Health Singapore.
HIV PEP should be started as soon as possible after exposure up to 72 hours. The ideal time period to start PEP is within 24 hours from exposure, although it has been shown to be effective up to 72 hours post-exposure.
The earlier HIV PEP is started, the more effective it is in preventing HIV transmission and infection.
If the exposure is more than 72 hours, HIV PEP will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the risk of exposure.
We prescribe the latest HIV PEP medications with minimal side effects and highly tolerable. The more common side effects with older PEP treatments may be nausea, diarrhoea and/or anorexia.
These side effects are generally not serious and not permanent and should resolve after the medication is stopped or completed.
Baseline HIV test, full blood count, liver and renal function tests will be performed to detect any pre-existing abnormality prior to treatment and can be repeated at 2 weeks.
There will be a follow-up visit after 4 weeks to repeat full blood count, liver and renal function tests as well as and a HIV test.
Follow-up HIV tests are recommended at 3 and 6 months post exposure.
For exposures to sources with KNOWN HIV status, we recommend a 3-drug or triple oral drug combination.
For exposures to sources with UNKNOWN HIV status, we recommend a 2-drug oral drug combination.
It is recommended to take one month’s course of PEP.
At Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic, we offer HIV PEP regimens that are well tolerated, with minimal side effects, drug–drug interactions, dosing requirements and pill burden.
Our prescription practices are consistent with HIV PEP regimens in local government hospitals and in line with international HIV post exposure prophylaxis guidelines.
While on HIV PEP, do not take any other medications without first consulting the doctor. Do not stop the HIV PEP without first consulting the doctor as well. If you are unable to tolerate the side effects, return to consult with the doctor for appropriate and safe next steps.
For a 2-drug oral drug combination, the cost is $1050 for one month’s course of medication.
For a 3-drug oral drug combination, the cost is $1800 for one month’s course of medication.
Other costs involved:
All prices subject to prevailing GST.
Please call 64433101, or SMS 96622880 or email info@tanjongpagarclinic.com for more information.
Table 1. Exposure and transmission risk / exposure with known HIV-positive source who is NOT on antiretroviral treatment
| Type of exposure | Estimated risk of HIV transmission/exposure* |
|---|---|
| Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) | 1/70 (with ejaculation) 1/155 (withdrawal) |
| Insertive anal intercourse | 1/160 (uncircumcised) 1/900 (circumcised) |
| Receptive vaginal intercourse | 1/1250 |
| Insertive vaginal intercourse | 1/2500 |
| Receptive or insertive oral intercourse | Unable to estimate risk – extremely low |
| Needle stick injury | 1/440 |
* Based on prospective studies, not cross-sectional data or figures derived from modelling. Does not take into account source viral load, which if undetectable markedly reduces risk estimates.
Reference: National PEP Guidelines Reference Group. Literature review for the National guidelines for post-exposure prophylaxis after non-occupational and occupational exposure to HIV. [monograph on the internet] Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine: Sydney, 2016. Available from www.ashm.org.au/ pep-guidelines
If you have had a high risk exposure, we would also recommend testing for other common STDs or STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Our STD / HIV clinic provides a full range of STD and STI testing services which can be done at the same time as the HIV testing.
Please see here for a full list of STD testing and screening profiles. HIV and STD tests can be customized to suit your risk profile.
The timing of the testing should be discussed with our doctor but generally we recommend testing at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months.
Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic is aso an approved Anonymous HIV Test Clinic by the Ministry of Health Singapore.
Apart from HIV PEP and HIV testing services, we also offer a range of other sexual health related medical services. Our suite of services include:
Our STD / HIV clinic provides a full range of STD and STI testing services which can be done at the same time as the HIV testing. Please see here for a full list of STD testing and screening profiles. HIV and STD tests can be customized to suit your risk profile.
We offer a full range of HIV testing as well as rapid and fast HIV tests, either by oral saliva swab or by fingerprick blood. Results in 20 minutes!
If you have had a recent high risk exposure (less than 72 hours), you may wish to consider HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which may help to prevent HIV transmission and potentially save your life!
We offer vaccination against Hepatitis virus and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Please call 64433101, SMS 96622880 or email info@tanjongpagarclinic.com for more information.
| STD | HIV | VACCINATION | GENERAL | STATUTORY | MEN’S HEALTH | WOMEN’S HEALTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STD TESTING AND SCREENING | HIV TESTING AND SCREENING | HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS) VACCINATION | ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES | LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA) | HAIR LOSS ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA | MENSTRUAL REGULATION |
| STD EXPRESS TESTING | HIV PEP (POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) | HEPATITIS VACCINATION | HEALTH SCREENING | ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE (AMD) | ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION | CONTRACEPTION REGULAR AND EMERGENCY |
| STD SELF TESTING | ANONYMOUS HIV TESTING | MPOX VACCINATION | SKIN AND ACNE | FOREIGN WORKER MEDICAL EXAM | PREMATURE EJACULATION | PAP SMEAR |
| STD TREATMENT | ADULT AND CHILD VACCINATION | WEIGHT LOSS AND MANAGEMENT | DRIVING LICENSE MEDICAL EXAM | ANDROPAUSE TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY | ||
| TELECONSULTATION |
