LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Performer Availability Screening Service (PASS) has issued 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.”
In an update to the statement, published at 5pm PST on Tuesday, PASS said the organization has been “informed that the majority of potentially exposed talent have been contacted and have been able to be retested, with additional talent scheduled to test tomorrow.”
“The production hold will be lifted once all known exposures have been retested and transmission risk can be ruled out,” PASS added.
In its initial statement, PASS said it had “confirmed a positive HIV test” and was “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,” the organization stated.
In their announcement, PASS explained that 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,” PASS noted. “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.”
PASS said that while production holds are “infrequent and treated with serious concern,” they are also “a normal and essential part of protecting the health of the industry.”
PASS explained that 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 are 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.”
PASS noted that 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,” adding that “all other considerations, aside from those dictated by law, are secondary to this aim.”
PASS said the organization recognizes “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.
PASS also noted that 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,” PASS explained.
Content production that does not involve fluid exchange or risk STI transmission can continue. Such production includes:
- 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 advise talent of the current production hold,” PASS said. “Any talent or creators who request not to work should have their wishes respected.”
PASS concluded its statement by saying the organization will “continue to monitor the situation and provide daily updates until it has been resolved.”
Those with questions for PASS about the production hold can contact info@passcertified.org. You can read the full PASS statement on the current production hold here.
