I tested throughout my pep course because I was feeling minor symptoms, basically some aches in the areas of lymph nodes. Neck, armpits and groin pain. I also had a red patch on the side of my tongue. I have a stiff neck but I think that is from stress. 

- I tested negative today via RNA and Antigen - is this a good sign? 

- I am still feeling the discomfort in my groin the strongest, it has lasted now for about 30 days - is there any other STI that could cause this? However, no swelling that I can see anywhere. The ache intensity fluctuates throughout the day.

- I am worried that my pep may have just been keeping the virus at bay throughout treatment, only producing mild symptoms, is this possible? 

- Overall, I feel exactly the same as I did while I was on pep. I read that tests would show as positive when having symptoms - is this true even if during a pep course?

- How long does it take for pep to leave your season?

- I know this is controversial but does pep alter the results of testing during treatment? I probably tested roughly 6-8 teams via antigen and RNA, one of those would've picked something up, safe to say?

- At what point can I finally consider my results conclusive? Either via RNA or Antigen?

As Dr. Handsfield indicated failures of PEP are relatively rare and so there are no good data on when the optimal time to test following PEP is. As Dr. Handsfield said, the exposure you described really did not warrant PEP to begin with. Having started it however, we would consider a negative HIVPCR 14 days following your last dose of pep to be conclusive although most experts, including ourselves, would also suggest a follow up combination HIV antigen/antibody test at six weeks to be entirely 100% sure that you were not infected. 

Your question about whether your symptoms might have been due to HIV which has been suppressed by your PEP is scientifically inaccurate. If you had failed PEP and your symptoms were due to HIV, your tests would’ve been positive. Dr. Handsfield explained this to you earlier. EWH 

- So would a negative RNA or Antigen test 7 days post pep mean anything?
- How long does pep stay in the human system?

- Hypothetically, could someone experience aches/discomfort for over a month and have it be attributed to hiv?

- When you says Antibody/Antigen at 6 weeks - are you saying 6 weeks from exposure? or 6 weeks post pep?

The PEP medications will have left the body within 12 to 24 hours after your last dose of medication.

Your hypothetical question is repetitive and the answer is not changing. Muscle aches and discomfort are nonspecific findings. With a negative HIV test at the time you are experiencing these weeks or any time afterward, you can be 100% confident those aches and discomfort are not due to HIV.

Conclusive test results are measured from the completion of PEP, not from the time of the encounter. Thus to be entirely conclusive, the standard recommendation is to test with an HIV antibody/antigen test six weeks following the last dose of medication.

EWH 

I stopped pep last Monday. I tested negative via RNA and Antigen on Thursday. On Friday, started feeling some mild nausea (I am very rarely nauseas) and a slightly upset stomach and faint headache that comes and goes. I am still feeling this today. No fever or any other symptoms. 

1) Could this be a sign of pep failure? I have a palpable lymph node on the right side of my neck, it isn't swollen, but I can feel it - it has been this way for a few weeks now. I took a OraQuik home test today and it was negative, however, those aren't too accurate and it is only an anti-body. 

2)When you say a test would always be positive while experiencing symptoms, did this refer to Antigen and RNA only? or is a home test included in this?
3)I tested negative on Thursday - could things change that quickly?
4) These symptoms have not been "intense" - could the fact that I completed a pep course for 28 days be giving me "milder" symptoms?

You are clearly anxious about HIV despite the very low risk nature of your experience as well as having taken PEP which you probably did not need.  Once again I urge you to take a deep breath and relax.  There is virtually no way that you acquired HIV from the exposure you described.  Please don't worry.  End ot thread.

I said that I had been experience stomach pain for the past few days. Comes and goes. However,  no diarrhea or vomiting. Could this be PEP failure?

Did you read my comment about your excessive and unwarranted anxiety.  Please read it and consider it.  You need to move on.  If you cannot do it on your own, then I suggest you seek professional counseling. EWH