PASS announced a preliminary production hold on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, asking all industry professionals, including independent content creators, to refrain from participating in sexual activities involving fluid exchange for production until the hold is lifted. The organization confirmed a positive HIV test and is working with industry testing partners to ensure known exposures are retested.

Details of the Production Hold

The preliminary production hold was announced by PASS on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, according to reports from AVN and XBIZ. Jeffrey Alton reported the news for AVN at 7:31 PM on June 10, 2025, while XBIZ Editors published their report at 1:03 PM PDT on the same date. The hold specifically requests that all industry professionals, including independent content creators, cease engaging in sexual activities involving fluid exchange for production purposes.

PASS indicated that it has confirmed a positive HIV test. The organization is collaborating with industry testing partners to ensure that individuals with known exposures are retested. A PASS official stated that the production hold will be lifted once these individuals are confirmed to have been retested and cleared.

A production hold is defined as a temporary suspension of adult film production, which includes independent content creators. It involves the locking of the PASS system and the implementation of contact tracing, or exposure investigation, to reduce the risk of potential transmission. Most production holds are resolved within several days if exposed talent can be retested by PASS testing partners. If retesting cannot be completed, or if there is an indication of potential transmission, a production hold can last for a maximum of 14 days to account for testing window periods.

PASS describes production holds as both a normal and essential part of protecting the health of the industry, despite being infrequent and treated with serious concern.

When Production Holds Are Initiated

Production holds are called when a potentially significant increase in infectious disease risk to performers, or STI exposure risk to the performer pool, has been identified. The most common reason for a production hold is 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.

Ian O'Brien, writing for PASS on April 15, stated that PASS understands production holds can be concerning. One of PASS’s goals is to ensure that all industry workers can properly communicate and coordinate with each other to ensure safety and prevent the transmission of disease and infection.

Goals and Process of PASS During a Hold

The paramount goal of a production hold, as outlined by PASS, is to reduce risk to the health and safety of the performer pool by containing exposures before transmission can occur. All other considerations, aside from those dictated by law, are secondary to this aim. PASS also recognizes the significant fiscal burden and other potential risks that a production hold can impose on those involved.

To address these concerns, PASS has outlined additional goals for a production hold. These include minimizing the amount of time production is halted and ensuring regular and clear communication with industry members regarding the production hold status and compliance. Another stated goal is to mitigate the legal, fiscal, and social liability of the industry.

The process involves a temporary suspension of adult film production, the locking of the PASS system, and the implementation of contact tracing or exposure investigation. The hold remains in effect until individuals with known exposures are retested and cleared by PASS testing partners.

Key Facts

  • PASS issued a preliminary production hold on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
  • The hold requests all industry professionals, including independent content creators, to stop sexual activities involving fluid exchange for production.
  • PASS confirmed a positive HIV test as the reason for the hold.
  • The organization is working with industry testing partners to retest known exposures.
  • A production hold is a temporary suspension of adult film production, locking of the PASS system, and implementation of contact tracing.
  • Most production holds are resolved within several days, but can last up to 14 days if retesting is not completed or transmission is indicated.