A number of production companies have announced that they will only accept HIV-tests that have come from AIM, in a move meant to solidify AIMs position as the independent health testing organization for the adult industry.
The companies that have decided to only accept test results from AIM Healthcare includes LFP, Vivid, Wicked Pictures, VCA, Red Light District, Elegant Angel, Video Team, Anabolic, Platinum X, Lucky Star Productions, Tabitha Yang Management, and Jet Set Productions, the first gay production company to begin mandatory testing.
One reason the companies have decided to only accept AIM test results is because of the legal ramifications associated with having an unknown party involved in the process. If proper procedures aren't followed, production companies could face legal consequences including lawsuits from talent that have been infected with a disease and fines from California Occupational Safety Health Agency (Cal-OSHA), the agency that is believed to have limited regulatory power over the adult industry in respect to safety standards.
California state law requires what is known as "prevention education," and also places responsibility upon the adult production companies to make sure that performers are not exposed to diseases.
Prevention education is informing performers of the risks they face by performing in adult productions. "People have to know exactly what the risks are when the go to do a sex scene. At AIM we give them a thorough education regarding STDs and HIV. We teach them how to identify if they or their sexual partners have a disease," Sharon Mitchell, executive director of AIM, told AVN.com.
"The Department of Health has made it very clear that they expect these procedures to be in place, and they know we utilize those procedures. So performers who have our tests have clearly made their own informed choice and are aware of the type of sex act that they are going to participate in," Mitchell added.
Paul Cambria, who represents a number of the top adult entertainment companies, endorsed AIM and encouraged other production companies to also only accept testing from AIM.
"I am recommending that all companies who are shooting in the state of California stay with the exclusive testing from AIM Healthcare Foundation. AIM has the track record, and the written endorsement of the Department of Health of Los Angeles AIM has also received support of the State Assembly and the Cal OSHA," noted Cambria in a statement released to AVN.com.
"Also AIM is an independent arm of the talent pool, and has no interests in casting or other conflicts of interest," Cambria noted.
"We're independent of any casting decisions and we don't have kickbacks from any other entities. That's part of why we're considered trustworthy and have been endorsed by the state of California, Cal-OSHA, numerous medical clinics and universities," Mitchell explained. "You can't have someone in a position to benefit financially by fudging test results involved in the testing."
