UK productions usually require a test dated within 14 days of the shoot covering HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and hepatitis B and C. Book a test a few days before each confirmed shoot rather than on a fixed cycle, keep your own copy of the result, and never work through symptoms.
The standard UK panel
UK productions typically require a test within the last 14 days covering:
- HIV (4th generation antibody and antigen, sometimes with an RNA top up)
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia (urine, throat and rectal swabs)
- Gonorrhoea (urine, throat and rectal swabs)
- Hepatitis B and C
Some productions also require Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas. If a producer asks for a panel that is wider than the standard list, they should either pay for the additional tests or pay a per scene bonus that covers the cost.
Window periods
A test only tells you your status up to the last exposure that could still be detected. Windows matter.
- HIV 4th generation: reliable from 28 days after exposure, probable from 14 days. RNA testing from 10 days.
- Syphilis: reliable from 12 weeks after exposure, often earlier with modern assays.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: reliable from 14 days, sometimes 7 to 10 days with sensitive NAAT tests.
- Hepatitis B: 6 to 8 weeks. Hepatitis C: 6 to 9 weeks with antibody testing, earlier with RNA.
A 14 day test window between shoots is the UK industry norm, but it does not close the syphilis or hepatitis windows if you have had recent non performer exposure. Be honest with yourself about that timeline.
14 days and 28 days: two different clocks
Performers regularly get confused here, so let us be precise. Your clinic may mention 28 days. That is the window period: how long after a possible exposure an HIV test becomes fully reliable. It counts backwards from your test, and it is not how long your results are valid for work.
Producers count a different clock: your results must be dated within 14 days of the shoot date. It counts forwards from your test. Both numbers are correct at once because they measure different things.
In practice: do not test on a fixed cycle. Book a test a few days before each confirmed shoot, so the results are fresh on the day. If you shoot twice in a month, that can mean testing twice in a month. If a shoot slips beyond 14 days from your last test, retest before you work.
Where to go
- 56 Dean Street and Dean Street Express (London): fast turnaround, experienced with sex workers, free on the NHS for UK residents.
- Sexual Health London (SHL): free postal kit service for London residents, useful for the basic chlamydia and gonorrhoea panel but not sufficient for pre shoot testing on its own.
- Umbrella (West Midlands) and Unity Sexual Health (Bristol): equivalent regional services.
- Private clinics: same day results for a fee, often in the region of £150 to £300 for a full panel. Worth keeping as a backup when you need a test turned around in 24 hours.
The NHS route is free and thorough, but appointment availability varies. Most working performers mix the two. Some producers accept a Talent Testing Service (TTS) record if you also work in the US, but always confirm in advance.
Producer testing pools
Some UK producers require every performer on a shoot to test through the same provider so that results can be cross referenced. This is reasonable and improves the safety of everyone on set. Ask which provider, book in, and pass the result to the producer through the agreed channel.
Handling a positive result
If a test comes back positive, the clinic will call you. Take the call. Do not send a text cancelling your shoot without explaining. You do not have to disclose the specific infection to your producer, but you must tell them that you cannot perform, and you must notify any recent on set partners through the clinic's contact tracing service. The clinic handles that anonymously and professionally.
Most common infections (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis at an early stage) are treated with antibiotics and you will usually be cleared to work again within 2 to 4 weeks. HIV is now a chronic, manageable condition. Performers living with HIV work in line with U=U guidance and on sets where everyone has given informed consent. Speak to your clinician before returning to work.
What not to do
- Do not take a friend's test. Fraud on a testing record is a career ending move and can create serious harm on set.
- Do not work through symptoms. If something is not right, cancel and test.
- Do not believe producers who tell you "everyone on this set is clean so you do not need a test". Walk.
This guide is general information for performers, not medical advice. Your clinic is the right place for questions about your own results.