Victorian NPEP Service
Patient information
What we do
PEP Phoneline: The PEP phoneline provides information and advice for people seeking PEP, as well as to GPs and other health-professionals. The PEP Phoneline now provides a free same day telehealth option to Victorian callers eligible for PEP. For more information, call 1800 889 887.
PEP Access: The NPEP Service co-ordinates PEP access across Victoria in partnership with GPs, sexual health clinics and hospital services, and assists people to find their closest PEP provider. Visit the GETPEP website to find your nearest PEP site.
PEP Telehealth: The PEP Phoneline now provides a free same-day telehealth appointment to Victorian callers eligible for PEP. For more information, call 1800 889 887.
What is PEP?
PEP is a 28-day course of tablets started within 72 hours (3 days) of a high risk HIV exposure.
Do I need to start PEP?
Whether or not you need PEP depends on how high the risk was.
To find out if you should take PEP, see the table below, and Commonly Asked Questions for further details. Please note that there may sometimes be exceptions to these general rules.
Where can I access PEP?
If you need to start PEP visit the PEP website to find your nearest PEP site.
| HIV exposure | PEP required? |
|---|---|
|
You had sex with someone on PrEP |
No |
| You had sex with someone with HIV who has a non-detectable viral load | No |
| Male to male sex - receptive anal sex (bottom) | YES |
| Male to male sex - insertive anal sex only if uncircumcised (top, uncut) | YES |
| Male to male sex - oral sex | No |
| Heterosexual sex | No |
| Community needle stick injury | No |
| Sharing needles (where HIV status is unknown) | No |
| Sharing needles (with a person who has HIV, or a person at high risk of HIV) | YES |
Commonly asked questions
HIV treatment (or anti-retroviral treatment) is medication taken by people who have HIV. The aim of HIV treatment is to reduce the amount of HIV in the body to a level that is so low that it can’t be detected on a viral load test – a non-detectable viral load.
Viral load is the amount of HIV in the body and is measured by a blood test. If someone with HIV has a ND VL it means that they have such a low amount of virus in their body that the test can’t detect it.
If your exposure was with someone who has HIV and has been on treatment with a non-detectable viral load for at least 6 months you do not need PEP.
If your exposure was to someone who has been reliably taking PrEP for at least 3 months and has had a negative HIV test 3 months after starting PREP they are unlikely to have HIV and you do not need PEP.
If you had an exposure with someone whose HIV status is unknown or who has HIV and is either not on treatment or has a high viral load you will need to start PEP in the following situations:
- Receptive anal sex (bottom partner) whether or not ejaculation occurred
- Insertive anal sex (top partner) if you are uncircumcised (uncut)
If you had oral sex your HIV risk is extremely low and PEP is generally not recommended. The only time PEP is considered for oral sex is if you had cuts in your mouth and were exposed to a partner who has HIV with a high viral load, or who is not on treatment.
Rates of HIV are very low in the heterosexual population in Australia and PEP is not generally required following heterosexual sex with a person of unknown HIV status. This includes with female sex industry workers in Australia.
You will need to start PEP if the exposure was with a person who has HIV and who is either not on treatment, has a high viral load, or is at a high risk of having HIV, for example they are from an overseas country with high rates of HIV.
Rates of HIV amongst people who inject drugs in Australia are very low. There have been no documented HIV transmissions from receiving a needle stick injury from a discarded needle in a public place.
You do not need to take PEP in this situation, however it is advised that you go to your GP within 72 hours to discuss hepatitis B vaccination. You will also need a test for Hepatitis C.
Rates of HIV amongst people who inject drugs in Australia are very low. If you have shared a needle with someone who’s HIV status you do not know, PEP is not generally recommended.
However it is advised that you see your GP within 72 hours to discuss hepatitis B vaccination. You will also need a test for Hepatitis C.
If you have shared a needle with a person who has HIV and is not on treatment or has a high viral load, or shared a needle with someone who has a high risk of having HIV, such as sharing with a man who has sex with other men, it is recommended that you start PEP.
Call the PEP Phoneline for a same day telehealth appointment or visit the PEP website to find your nearest PEP site.
How to access this service
Contact us directly
Patients, families, carers, and case managers can reach out to us directly for assistance.