AHF Gets it Wrong Again: Confirmatory Syphilis Test is Negative

FSC (Free Speech Coalition) wishes to report that, once again, AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) has gotten it wrong. Results from two separate confirmatory tests, conducted by the original testing facility for the performer in question show that the patient is negative for syphilis. Doctors from both Cutting Edge and Talent Testing have coordinated their efforts to ensure that APHSS (Adult Performer Health and Safety Services) medical protocols were followed.

APHSS industry protocols dictate that testing facilities utilize the TrepSure test a highly sensitive and specific test for syphilis – far more sensitive than a standard syphilis test.  The result is, from time to time, the test will indicate a positive for syphilis when in fact the patient is negative, which is why APHHS protocols dictate that confirmatory tests are required with a positive TrepSure.

“Unlike AHF, we choose to get our information from medical professionals rather than from the gossip or conjecture of bloggers,” said Diane Duke, FSC’s Chief Executive Officer.  “Unfortunately AHF has gone on another witch hunt trying to cause a media frenzy by suggesting an ‘outbreak’ when the performer in question has tested negative. Patient privacy and respect are of utmost importance to us and we encourage responsible reporting rather than the spread of misinformation by rumor mill opportunists who may take this situation as prospect for media attention.”

ABOUT APHSS: Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS) is a system developed and operated by the Free Speech Coalition to uphold STD testing protocols for adult industry performers, as well as medical protocols put in place to safeguard adult industry productions.

APHSS Doctors Identify Syphilis Test with 14-Day Window Period

APHSS testing facilities can start new testing protocol immediately, alleviating need for performer syphilis treatment

After continued and exhaustive research, APHSS doctors have discovered a new test for syphilis – Treponemal EIA. This state-of-the-art test significantly shortens the window for syphilis testing from 90 days to 14 days.

Trep-Sure is the brand name of the Treponemal EIA test for syphilis that will be utilized by APHSS.org doctors. This test, manufactured by Phoenix Bio-tech Corporation, is FDA approved as a confirmatory diagnostic test for syphilis and has 99-100% levels of sensitivity and specificity.

Package Insert Information for Trep-Sure

This discovery provides the industry with a viable alternative to preventative treatment.  For performers who have had preventative treatment administered, they will still be available to work 10 days after the date treatment was administered. For performers who have not had the treatment, the waiting time to begin performing has just been reduced from 90 days to 14 days. Because of this significantly shortened window, APHSS is suspending preventative treatment and is asking performers who have not been preventatively treated to go to any APHSS provider and get tested with the new test and to get re-tested 14 days later.

Effective immediately, all APHSS providers will utilize the new Treponemal EIA test in monthly performer testing panel.

For performers who have been preventatively treated with antibiotics:

Performers who have already received a preventative shot or prescription are clear to work, with a clean panel, 10 days after receiving treatment.  That means performers who received preventative treatment on August 22, the first day treatment was provided, will be able to perform with a clean panel—that includes the new Treponemal EIA test–on September 1^st.  If they were treated on August 23^rd, they will be available on September 2^nd and so on.  Performers will be shown as available to work on the APHSS database 10 days after treatment with a clean panel that includes the new Treponemal EIA test for syphilis.

For performers who have not been preventatively treated:

Performers, who have not received preventative antibiotics, should go to any APHSS provider and take the new Treponemal EIA test.  If the test is positive, immediate treatment is available.  If the test is negative, the performer should wait 14 days and retest with the new Treponemal EIA.  With two negative Treponemal EIA tests 14 days apart, along with a cleared panel, the performer will be cleared for work.  Performers will be shown as available to work 14 days after a negative Treponemal EIA test with a clean panel that includes the new Treponemal test for syphilis.

“This is great news for the industry,” said Diane Duke FSC Executive Director. “Not only will we be able to use this test to confirm that performers are not infected and can work in a much shorter period of time, but also we will be able to identify those who may have an acute (recent) infection not recognized by the standard RPR syphilis test.   Our program has and will continue to seek out the best and latest testing and technologies for the health and well-being of our performers.”

APHSS has thousands of sites for performers to choose from nationwide.

Performers can contact any of the providers below to obtain the new Treponemal EIA test.

AMTC Advanced Medical Testing Center
Locations Nationwide, including California
(888) 511-0262
www.samedaytest.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Van Nuys, CA Location
Dr. Peter Miao MD
(818) 386-2132
5000 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 202, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Hours: 10:00am to 5pm Mon–Fri
www.cuttingedgetesting.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Ft. Lauderdale, FL Location
2312 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manners, FL 33305
(954) 745-6888

STD Status
Approximately 2,000 locations nationwide including many in  LA and Miami
Hours will vary by location
1-866-554-4296
www.stdstatus.com

Dr. Sean Darcy

Concierge physician available to administer tests inLos Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco to groups on site by appt.

(310) 351-8814

To sign up for the APHSS database go to APHSS.org. For any additional questions contact Joanne at 818-348-9373 or joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

Testing, Treatments Proceed With Cooperation from Performers, Producers

Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) would like to update the current developments with syphilis testing and treatments for adult performers.

APHSS.org has implemented exposure protocols due to the recent incident involving performers that have tested positive for syphilis. Nearly 300 performers have been tested and treated for syphilis since August 22. These include performers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, FL and other locations nationwide.

“We would like to thank the performers and producers for their quick response to the protocols and for their cooperation,” said FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “This situation might have resulted in even more serious repercussions if there was no program like APHSS to step in with protocols for follow-up care with doctors and, ultimately, testing and treatment. We are encouraged by the proactive action of performers and producers – with their support for the testing/treatment protocols, we have significantly minimized risk for performers.”

Testing/treatments continue to be offered this week. These developments follow reports of a widespread syphilis outbreak in Prague and Budapest, which coincide with alleged exposures here in the U.S.

Los Angeles County Public Health Department (LACPH) has stated that there are at least nine adult performers that have tested positive for syphilis, but so far APHSS.org has reported only two performers with positive results – one in Los Angeles and the other outside of California. Without data to identify any additional positive cases, the APHSS doctors network decided that preventative treatment with antibiotics was the best course to take, in order to minimize risk for exposure for performers.

“Because of the possibility of additional positive results from non-APHSS providers, after consulting with our team of doctors, it was clear that the only responsible course of action was to call a production moratorium and to follow that with testing and treatment,” Duke added.

Performer and APHSS Committee Member Danny Wylde also offered his opinion on the importance of performers to comply with the current syphilis testing/treatment protocols.

“I defend the testing and treatment protocols proposed by APHSS, including the production moratorium and prophylactic antibiotic treatment,” Wylde said. “For those who rely on performing as their primary means of income, there has been no proposed alternative to the APHSS protocol that addresses both the syphilis exposure as a concern and considers the reality that performers need to make a living.

“Many performers claim to have received medical advice from their personal physician to not accept prophylactic penicillin without explicit knowledge of infection,” Wylde added. “I cannot recommend that anyone disregard advice from their doctor. However, a performer’s personal physician has not been asked to address a community health threat to the adult performer population.”

“I respect one’s right to forego antibiotic treatment and wait out the 90-day incubation period for syphilis,” Wylde said, lastly. “But to return to work without treatment – and without knowledge of who has been exposed – is dangerous.”

Currently, all performers signed up for the APHSS database have been made “unavailable” for work. Data is being compiled that will track the ten-period after each performer has been treated; at that point, they will be marked “available” for work with a clean panel.

For more information on current developments or APHSS.org, please contact Joanne@freespeechcoaition.com or (818) 348-9373.

(Photo: Courtesy of the National Archive and Records Administration)

APHSS Meeting with L.A. County Health Official Confirms 9 Adult Performers May Have Tested Positive for Syphilis

After a meeting yesterday with L.A. County Public Health (LACPH) officials, Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke and Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) representatives have received confirmation that nine as-yet-unidentified adult performers may have tested positive for syphilis.

Dr. Peter Kerndt, who is the Director of STI Programs for the County, informed Duke of the positive test results for adult performers. However, he refused to share any of the patient information with APHSS doctors, saying only that they had been reported to the County.

Kerndt also confirmed that the point of origin for the syphilis exposures has not been identified. According to Duke, only one of the two performers confirmed as positive through APHSS is part of group of nine identified by LACPH; presumably, performer Mr. Marcus, who has since gone public with positive syphilis test results. Kerndt indicated that there were positive tests for performers that likely preceded Mr. Marcus’ positive test.

Since the other of the two positive results (confirmed by APHSS) occurred outside of the state of California this would mean that, between LACPH findings and the findings of APHSS, there could be up to ten performers total that may have tested positive for syphilis.

“This latest development only confirms the need for APHSS.org as a single, comprehensive source of performer data for adult production. Had the first performer who tested positive for syphilis been reported by their healthcare provider in a timely manner to APHSS, partner notification and positive performer separation would have occurred quickly enough to reduce the likelihood of transmission and perhaps the need for a moratorium,” Duke said after the meeting.

At one point during yesterday’s meeting, the APHSS doctor was asked by Dr. Kerndt to hand over patient records – including production records – for the two performers that tested positive for syphilis, as well as patient records for all performers that have tested and received treatment for syphilis through APHSS since the production moratorium was called. Both Duke and the APHSS doctor, present at the meeting, refused to comply with this request citing respect for patient privacy.

In line with APHSS.org protocols, as well as state and local regulations, all testing facilities affiliated with APHSS.org have and will report any positive STI test results to the county health department.

“Performer privacy is a top priority for APHSS,” Duke said. “We will cooperate as much as possible with County Health officials – but only with the permission of these affected individuals, if they would like to come forward. If those individuals choose to release their information to the County, either through their medical providers or direct communication, that is their decision. APHSS providers are expected to, and do, fulfill all reporting requirements to the County. We hope to facilitate a cooperative working environment with County health officials, but will not compromise performer patient privacy.”

(Photo: Some rights reserved by Hakan Dahlstrom)