A pornographic video actor in Los Angeles has contracted HIV, leading to a shutdown of production, an industry group says.

The Free Speech Coalition announced the news Sunday night but did not identify the performer, nor his or her gender.

The porn industry uses a database that lists STD statuses of all performers. Actors must be listed in the database in order to book films and are tested every 30 days, but this leaves a dangerous window period after infection in which the virus is undetectable.

As performers engage in sex with individuals outside of the pool of tested actors and new arrivals come in, it is extremely difficult to prevent this type of event and, many say, this was bound to happen sooner or later.

It is not known how long the filming moratorium will last, or how many people the infected individual had sex with.

Among the studios that have suspended production is Van Nuys-based Evil Angel, said Tricia Devereaux, a former performer and spokeswoman for the company.

The moratorium will last as long as needed to feel confident we won't be shooting anyone who was exposed, Devereaux said in an e-mail Tuesday. Once that ends, there will still be people who haven't been cleared yet who will have to wait before they can perform.

This moratorium should remain in place until primary reports of any exposure are confirmed. In the event of the necessity for first- and second-generational testing, a list of any individuals that may have been exposed will be compiled and the moratorium will then be evaluated by our medical and legal advisers, as well as industry stakeholders, the Free Speech Coalition said in a statement.

The incident occurred outside of California and there is nothing to suggest that the occurrence has affected the Los Angeles-based industry, the pornography trade association said in a statement Tuesday.

The industry has consistently argued that using condoms on film would decrease both pleasure and market demand for its product.

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