For the past two weeks, the media has been buzzing about the adult film performer in California who tested positive for HIV. The actor, inappropriately dubbed "Patient Zero," has been identified as a male actor who worked in both gay and straight porn, which appears to be a rarity with male performers. This discovery has prompted four studios, including Vivid Entertainment and Hustler Video, to shut down production while they test anyone who has had unprotected sex with him. As of yet, no one has tested positive, but given that it can take up to 90 days to seroconvert, retesting will most likely happen in the near future.
HIV infections in the porn industry are not a new phenomenon. While getting testing is voluntary, some studios require that their actors must be tested every 30 days and have documentation from the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation that they do not have HIV or any other STDs. But clearly, this method isn't fool proof, especially if the actor has had unprotected sex in between tests. In 2004, Darren James, who was unaware of his HIV status, unknowingly infected three other actresses. Twenty-two performers are reported to have tested positive for HIV since James, including a female performer who tested positive last year.
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