Expert: Jim Boyd - 4/8/2008

Question
Hi again Jim,
Thanks for all your help Jim, you're a wonderful resource. The knowledge and the timely responses are great. Anyway, on to the question! how do the STD tests work? I am assuming talent either get tested on a regular basis or get tested just before each shoot? STD test results take a little time to get back, what measures, if any, are out in place to keep people clean in the time between testing and getting the reslut back? thanks Jim.

Answer
Hello again Blair,

I'm glad you find the information useful.

The testing for STDs is kind of a tricky matter because there really isn't anything that can be done to insure that a performer remains "clean" between tests, or between the time of their last test and the day of a shoot. These are after all adults with lives outside of work, and while STD testing is a wonderful tool to insure the health and well being of the performers, it is not a perfect system.

You are correct in your assumption that performers are tested at reasonably regular intervals, and the frequency of testing varies with the amount of work that a performer actually does. As a general rule, most producers insist that the test results on hand at the time of a shoot are no more than 30 days old.

You may have also heard STD testing referred to as an AIM test. AIM refers to the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation. AIM is an organization that provides specialized STD testing to Industry professionals(as well as the general public)and has set guidelines for testing that are now widely accepted as the Industry standard. The organization was founded by Dr. Sharon Mitchell who, oddly enough, is a former adult performer and an AVN hall of fame inductee, thus making her extremely dedicated to the task of keeping Adult performers healthy.

You can find everything you need to know about the testing process on the AIM website http://www.aim-med.org

Jim Boyd