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DGRefHelp - NHS Dumfries & Galloway
Sexual health
Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
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PEP after sexual exposure - information for clinicians
What happens if the patient doesn’t take PEP?

Please update your RDS mobile app to version 4.7.1

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. When you install the update, you will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively install the update to install RDS app version 4.7.1 to see this improvement. Installing this update is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new contingency arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

What happens if the patient doesn’t take PEP?

DGRefHelp - NHS Dumfries & Galloway

NHS Dumfries and Galloway

Baseline HIV, hepatitis B core antibody and heptatis C antibody bloods should be taken for storage.
It would be recommended that the patient attends their GP or a sexual health clinic for testing for sexually transmitted infections.
If possible they should wait until two weeks after the sex since the tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea are less reliable in the first two weeks.
An HIV test is very reliable if done no sooner than 45 days after exposure. A syphilis test could be requested also at this time but would require repeating at 12 weeks if negative.
Condoms give excellent protection from passing on HIV and reduce the risk of transmitting other sexually transmitted infections.
If before the patient is seen symptoms develop suggestive of a sexually transmitted infection (for example: urethral or rectal discharge; a change in vaginal discharge; genital, peri-anal or oral sores: unexplained vaginal bleeding; abdominal or testicular pain) the patient should contact Sexual Health for an earlier appointment, attend their GP or After Hours.