Time-critical triage
PEP enquiries are prioritised. Same-day assessment so you can start treatment well inside the 72-hour window.
HIV PEP · 72-hour window · Kuala Lumpur
HIV prevention through PEP is a race against time - every hour counts.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) means taking medicines to help prevent HIV after possible exposure. Studies show it must be started within 72 hours - and is highly effective when taken within 24 hours. After 72 hours, efficacy drops sharply.
Time-sensitive: If you may have been exposed in the last 72 hours, contact us immediately - every hour counts. PEP works best within 24 hours and becomes ineffective after about 3 days, when HIV is fully established inside the body.
PEP is time-sensitive - but starting it is simpler than most people expect.
- MMC-registered doctors
- KKM Licensed Clinic
- 4.9 · 750+ reviews
- Bangsar Shopping Centre
- 10am-8pm daily
- Personal health concierge
- Up to 90% effective if started within 72 hours
- Doctor-supervised 28-day course
- Concierge line monitored for urgent cases
Understanding HIV risk
If one has unprotected sex and fears HIV exposure, there are a few things to understand. A single act of unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive carries less than a 1% risk of catching the infection. The risk is much higher - about 15% - if sharing contaminated needles. Even so, PEP should be considered after any possible HIV exposure.
Even if HIV has entered the body, it needs time to enter cells where it can start producing copies. This is why PEP is highly effective when taken within 24 hours of exposure. Once HIV has begun multiplying, it can make millions of copies every hour - preventing further multiplication becomes challenging after 72 hours, and after about three days it is fully established inside the body.
Why patients trust Hisential for PEP
Doctor-supervised
An MMC-registered doctor reviews your exposure, prescribes the antiretroviral medication course and arranges baseline tests.
Safe, well-tested regimen
PEP medicines have been well-tested for years. Because the course is short, side effects are rare - you'll be supported throughout.
Fully confidential
Discreet visit, private results, and follow-up coordinated by one concierge - never a public queue.
How PEP works at Hisential
- 01
1. Urgent contact
Call or WhatsApp the concierge line. We don't waste time - assessment is same-day so PEP can start immediately.
- 02
2. Rapid HIV test & start PEP
A rapid HIV test confirms you are HIV-negative at baseline. PEP is started straight away - we do not wait for the other tests to come back.
- 03
3. 28-day course, retest at 1 & 3 months
Daily medication for 28 days, then HIV tests at one month and three months after the course to confirm your status and give you peace of mind.
Who must consider HIV PEP treatment?
PEP is not for regular use - it is an emergency measure that only works when medications are taken within 72 hours of exposure. Examples of emergencies where PEP may help:
- Breakage or slipping of a protection sheath during sex
- Sex with a person known to be HIV-positive
- Sex with someone who has risky behaviour and whose HIV status is unclear
- Sharing contaminated needles
- Exposure to blood or semen through an open cut, wound, sore or ulcer
- Sexual assault
- Occupational exposure, such as exposure to blood in an operating theatre
Are there any blood tests done?
Yes - doctors carry out tests like a rapid HIV test to ensure you are HIV-negative when starting therapy. We may also recommend an STD panel to exclude other infections and check liver and kidney function. PEP is started immediately - we don't wait for the results of those additional tests, only the rapid HIV test.
HIV tests are repeated one month after the therapy and again at three months. These tests confirm whether the therapy has worked and give you peace of mind that PEP has done its job.
PEP is not a substitute for prevention
PEP is not a substitute for usual measures like avoiding high-risk behaviour or using protection. It is an emergency measure - one of the best emergency-protective methods available, but it cannot always compensate for high-risk behaviour. For ongoing exposure risk, ask your doctor about PrEP (pre-exposure prevention) once the PEP course is complete.
Common questions
Act now! The sooner PEP starts, the better it works