Sep 16, 2013 5:15 PM PDT    Text size: 

LOS ANGELES — The Free Speech Coalition’s Performer Availability Screening Services (PASS) program, formerly APHSS, on Monday announced that the moratorium on porn production will be lifted this Friday. 

A moratorium on shooting has been in effect since Sept. 6.

All performers must test on or after Thursday, Sept. 19 in order to be cleared to work. Additionally, all performers will now be required to test every 14 days in order to be cleared for work.

“Our industry protocols are designed to be conservative and our doctors support a conservative approach, for the health and well-being of the performers,” said Diane Duke, FSC chief executive officer. “That is why moving forward, the physicians have recommended and we have implemented, a 14-day testing protocol.”

The change in policy comes after FSC/PASS confirmed that three performers tested positive for HIV. Subsequent tests of scene partners established that the virus did not originate and was not transmitted on set, and  PASS doctors worked closely with the performers to identify first-generation exposures. No additional incidences of HIV have surfaced, FSC/PASS said. However, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) on Sept. 9 claimed a fourth HIV-positive performer had confirmed his status to them. FSC/PASS said it had no evidence that AHF's claim was accurate.

The Sept. 19 date marks 14 days since Patient No. 3 tested positive for HIV. The window period for the HIV RNA Aptima test is 7-10 days, but industry protocols dictate that retests occur 14 days or later as an added precaution.

In addition to the change to a 14-day testing period, FSC’s PASS program plans to work with doctors, workplace safety specialists and performers to support a performer education program.

“We can do more to help our performers learn how to protect themselves, on screen and off,” Duke said. “While the increased testing will further ensure safer sets, it is important that we remain vigilant. Going forward, we need to constantly look to both performers, producers and health care professionals to find ways to improve our protocols.”