Report: Porn Actor Probably Infected With HIV On Set In Nevada

The Department of Public Heath in California has issued an alert after finding strong evidence indicating that a porn actor may have been infected with HIV while on set in Nevada. The alert was issued on Monday, the Guardian reports. It said that the actor tested negative for HIV before performing in two separate film shoots in Nevada in which he had unprotected sex with a number of other male actors. During the second shoot, the actor had symptoms of a viral infection, so went to get tested again. This time, he tested positive for HIV.

Since then, another actor from the second shoot has also tested positive for HIV, and the Health Department believes he was likely infected by the first actor.

The Department noted that someone can test negative for HIV very early on in an infection. "In this case, the actor and production company thought he was HIV-negative during filming," the alert reads. "Shortly after his negative test, HIV levels in his body rose rapidly to where he could infect other actors through unprotected sex." A release from the AIDS Health Foundation said that the actor likely received the faulty negative test in California.

For privacy reasons, the Health Department could not reveal any other details as to the exact location of the shoot or what production company was behind it.

According to a release from the Free Speech Coalition, an adult-industry trade group, the group worked with the Department of Public Health to assess the risk of infection to performers on Performer Availability Screening Services (PASS) compliant shoots, PASS being the testing protocols the adult industry advocates. FSC said they learned the while the out-of-state shoots the actor participated in did use some HIV testing methods, they were non-compliant with PASS protocols. PASS protocols use RNA testing versus an ELISA HIV testing. RNA or rapid testing has a shorter window for detection.

"Not only did this leave those who participated at risk, it made it much harder to track scene partners once the possible infection was discovered," the release said.

FSC does not view this alert as a current threat, but does state that non-compliant shoots are "one of the chief dangers of pushing the adult industry out of state, and outside the established testing protocol."

The porn industry has begun filming more often in Nevada and elsewhere after legislation championed by the AIDS Health Foundation made it mandatory for condoms to be worn on all adult film sets in Los Angeles County in 2012. Some adult filmmakers and performers have vehemently argued against the law, stating that it violates their freedom of speech; alienates viewers from fantasy; and is actually less safe than their own method of frequent testing and strict record keeping. In August, a bill that would have made in mandatory for condoms to be worn in all porn filmed in the entire state of California was shelved by the State Senate's Appropriations Committee.