Fri 26 Oct 2007 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Three performers became infected with HIV last month during the production of a gay 'bareback' movie, according to UK gay magazine Boyz. The models were working with a 26-year-old actor who apparently had tested negative using a standard HIV antibody test. However, standard HIV testing allows for a three-month period when HIV antibodies may remain undetectable, and when the actor went for monthly testing just a few days after the production shoot in question, he was found to be HIV-positive. One of the three actors who became infected, Jay, said, “On all the shoots, we do everything: kiss, rim, fuck. I'm passive, but he didn't come inside me - that never happens in porn, it's all face and mouth. It must have been from his pre-cum inside me.” The article pointed out the issues raised by using HIV testing that may produce a false negative result for up to twelve weeks after initial infection, which is the type of test most commonly used for performers in the UK. An HIV doctor told Boyz, “Tests with shorter window periods would be the best way for anyone who works in bareback porn to reduce the risks.” However, the unnamed doctor stated also that unprotected sexual activity was “never risk-free, regardless of testing.” After the incident the unnamed director of the production reportedly is now ensuring that all performers who work for his company will be tested monthly with a 48-hour HIV test provided by a London clinic. Presumably, that test would be a PCR-DNA test, which is the standard for the industry performers working in straight productions in the US. According to the report, the UK Health Department continues to recommend the standard HIV test for performers citing that the test is more reliable and that there were concerns about alleged false negatives with the 48-hour tests. The production company director stated that he was unaware the 48-hour tests were available, saying, “If we had known about it, we'd have chased it up and made sure we used it.” Jay said also, “I wish that my company was using the quick test before my shoot but they didn't know about it.” The production company plans to release the title sometime before Christmas. "Unsuspecting viewers won't be aware that they're actually watching the young performers being infected with HIV," concluded the Boyz news story.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 26th October 2007 - 11:28am