

Wicked Pictures officials said Tuesday that they have suspended film production at their Canoga Park-based operation as a precaution following the announcement that an adult film performer has tested positive for HIV.

[Updated at 6:30 p.m.: Officials with Vivid Entertainment, another porn production company based in Van Nuys, said they also have ceased filming until a clearer picture emerges of the possible implications of the new case.

"When Vivid was first made aware that a performer had tested positive for HIV we immediately suspended production," Steven Hirsch, Vivid's co-founder, said in statement to The Times. "We did this as a precaution and will continue to monitor the situation. AIM Healthcare acted appropriately to quarantine all adult talent who may have been exposed. We will wait for all of the facts to emerge before we resume production."]

The porn production companies, both well-known in the industry, were the first to announce a shift as a result of the positive test result confirmed Tuesday by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, known as AIM.

"Even though Wicked is condoms-mandatory, we have postponed our upcoming productions to give AIM a chance to create a comprehensive quarantine list," company officials said in a statement to The Times. "Thanks to the continued efforts of AIM the entire industry was all made aware of this possible threat on the same day."

A 2004 HIV outbreak in the San Fernando Valley-based porn industry shut down production for a month.