HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – qualification visit

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – qualification visit

Diagnostic and preventive consultation with an infectious disease specialist only for adults at increased risk of HIV infection. The consultation is to implement and monitor preventive treatment to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Sign up for an appointment and get tested.

Persons at an increased risk of HIV infection include those who:

• have condomless sex with potentially HIV-infected individuals;

• have used PrEP after having sex in the last year;

• have suffered from sexually transmitted diseases in the last year;

• have sex under the influence of psychoactive substances;

• use injection drugs;

• are sex workers.

During the first appointment, the doctor:

takes history and performs a physical examination; assesses indications for the implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment; orders the necessary laboratory tests needed to implement PrEP treatment or evaluates the results of laboratory tests provided by the patient. You can find a list of necessary tests HERE (you can use the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Testing Package – for the qualification visit  – get tested and come with the results to the consultation. This will reduce the waiting time to implement treatment); if the patient comes with their test results, HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia infection can be excluded; discusses the risk of HIV, HBV and HCV infection, the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of PrEP; provides information about prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including vaccination against HBV, HAV and possibly HPV; if the patient has come with the results of the required tests, qualifies the patient for PrEP, discusses the importance of taking medication regularly, methods to make it easier for the patient to take medication regularly and medication side effects; defines further prevention steps.

Your benefits

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves the use of antiretroviral medications before exposure and for some time after exposure. This can protect you from HIV infection if you come into contact with the virus. However, it is important to remember that PrEP medications do not protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

Note: patients who have had syphilis are requested to provide treatment records or a certificate of completed treatment. Patients should bring their current test results (if available) to the appointment.

In order for the infectious disease specialist to provide guidance on starting PrEP, they must know the results of the following tests performed 3–6 days before the appointment:

HBsAg; HCV antibody test; HIV antibodies and p24 antigen – COMBO test; syphilis serology (VDRL); detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrheae (rapid tests for qualitative determination of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen and gonorrhoea antigen, swabbing); full blood count – analyser – blood; urine – general test (midstream urine!); alanine aminotransferase (ALT); creatinine – serum; phosphorus – serum.

Note:  you should have your laboratory tests (blood sample collection and urine) 3-6 days before your appointment.

The swab can be taken during the same visit to the Medical Centre as the blood sample collection or before the on-site appointment with an infectious diseases doctor.

Men should not urinate for at least one hour before a urethral swab is taken.

Do not eat anything before you come for your blood sample to be taken.

You should buy a urine sample collection cup.