LOS ANGELES — PASS has called for a preliminary production hold following a positive HIV test.
The organization's statement follows:
PASS is issuing a preliminary production hold, asking all industry professionals, including independent content creators, to refrain from participating in sexual activities involving fluid exchange for production until the hold has been lifted.
PASS has confirmed a positive HIV test and is working with industry testing partners to ensure known exposures are retested. Once we are able to confirm that these individuals have been retested and cleared, PASS will lift the production hold.
What is a Production Hold?
A production hold is a temporary suspension of adult film production, including independent content creators, locking of the PASS system, and implementation of contact tracing in order to reduce the risk of potential transmission. Most production holds are over within several days if exposed talent is able to get retested by our testing partners. If retesting cannot be completed, or there is indication of potential transmission, a production hold can last a maximum of 14 days to account for our testing window periods.
While infrequent and treated with serious concern, production holds are both a normal and essential part of protecting the health of the industry.
When Are Production Holds Called?
Production holds are called when a potentially significant increase in infectious disease risk to performers has been identified. The most common occurrence of production holds is when an active performer is diagnosed with a potentially transmissible HIV infection; however, other viral or bacterial STI diagnoses or a large increase in the incidence of other STIs may also trigger a production hold.
What are PASS’s Goals with Production Holds?
The goal of a production hold is to reduce risk to the health and safety of the performer pool by containing potential exposures before transmission can occur; all other considerations, aside from those dictated by law, are secondary to this aim. However, we recognize the large fiscal burden and other potential risks a production hold can cause to those involved. To this end, we also have a number of secondary goals:
- Minimize the amount of time production is halted.
- Ensure regular and clear communication with industry members regarding production hold status and compliance.
- Mitigate the legal, fiscal, and social liability of the industry and industry members.
Can I film content during a production hold?
Current best practices are to stop any content involving fluid exchange and the potential risk of STI transmission during a production hold. Fluid exchange activities involve anything that could involve exposure to semen (including precum), vaginal fluid, breast milk, and/or blood.
Content production is allowed on the following:
- Solo shoots
- Toy use, where the toy is only used on a single person
- BDSM shoots not involving fluid exchange
- Masturbation between partners
- Kissing
However, even if your shoot does not involve fluid exchange, we advise all production to inform talent of the current production hold. Any talent or creators who request not to work should have their wishes respected.
PASS will continue to monitor the situation and provide daily updates until it has been resolved. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@passcertified.org and we will get back to you as fast as possible.
