PASS Swabbing FAQ
The addition of oral and rectal swabs as part of a test panel can help identify and prevent transmission, as a urine test may not detect infections in the throat or butt. We are currently seeking ways to include swabbing in the testing protocol with the PASS testing partners and to make it more accessible.
What are the current swabbing recommendations?
In addition to the current 14-day standard panel, we currently recommend the following:
Oral swabs for chlamydia/gonorrhea as part of every 14-day panel
*Rectal swabs if participating in any scenes that involve contact with your butt, including penises, toys, fingers, or mouths.
*While it is not a matter of clearance, even if you are not doing any anal-adjacent scenes we recommend occasional rectal swabbing for your personal health, as cross-infections may occur.
When will swabbing become part of the standard panel?
PASS is working with industry stakeholders, including our testing partners, to develop an implementation timeline. While we believe the addition of swabbing will provide additional safety to the standard industry panel, they can be both prohibitively expensive and are not available everywhere - there also may be a transition period for supply to catch up with demand. These challenges to access need to be overcome before issuing an industry-wide mandate.
However, we want to note that standardization creates a baseline agreement in order to set general expectations and keep the most people safe. It is the bare minimum requirement, not an excuse to ignore individual requests for what they need for their own safety. We are fully in support with performers, agents, and studios creating additional requirements for swabbing until an industry-wide standard can be modified.
Where can I get swabbed?
All PASS testing partners offer oral and/or anal swabs for an additional fee. You will need to request these in addition to your typical panel. If your testing service does not offer swabbing, or you can not afford the additional cost, we encourage you to visit your community health centers or public health clinics to access free or low-cost swabbing options. We realize this is not a sustainable solution, but can be used as a stop-gap until the testing protocol can be updated.
Can I require swabbing from my scene partners?
Yes! While PASS sets standard testing guidelines for the industry as a matter of community health, you are always allowed to make additional requests for what you need to feel safe on set. However, as this is not currently part of PASS, this means you will need to review an individual’s actual test results yourself in order to discern whether or not they were tested, as we currently do not have the infrastructure to support that kind of verification within the PASS system.
Current PASS Testing Partners
TBD Health also offers at-home swabbing test kits for chlamydia and gonorrhea for $112 for folks living in Florida, Washingoton, Nevada, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
