Niagara public health department investigates use of non-sterilized instruments

Posted By Corey Laroocque

Niagara’s public health department has recommended blood tests for anyone who received piercings from the Venom Ink tattoo and piercing parlours in Niagara Falls or St. Catharines after the department launched an investigation into the business for using non-sterile piercing instruments and equipment for piercings.

The business opened at 5842 Ferry Street in Niagara Falls in September, but had a location in St. Catharines in July and August.

“We want to ensure all clients who received piercing services at either location see their physician or visit a walk-in clinic and ask for a blood test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C,” Bjorn Christensen, Niagara's director of environmental health, said in a statement issued by the public health department.

After talking with the owner of the business, public health officials believe there are 40 customers who received piercings during the three months Venom Ink was in business – two months in St. Catharines and one in Niagara Falls.

Copies of the region's notice were posted in the window and on the door of Venom Ink. It’s in a storefront in the Ferry Street business area, just east of Main Street. A brown coiled cobra with its mouth open, bearing its fangs is painted in the store’s window. An ad in the window calls it Niagara Falls’ newest tattoo shop. The walls inside the shop are lined with hundreds of images that can be purchased as tattoos.

Employees working Saturday afternoon said they did not want to discuss the health department's notice and threatened to charge a reporter with trespassing if he came by again.

Christensen said piercing customers are at a "low risk" for being infected by a blood-borne disease.

“At this time there is no evidence of transmission of infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but there is a low risk because of the use of the non-sterile equipment,” Christensen said.

Venom Ink’s piercing business has been shut down, though the tattooing portion of the business is still permitted to carry on, said Christensen.

The health department warning applies only to people who received piercings – not to those who had tattoos done.

Tattoos were performed using single-source needles.

“But for piercings, it’s a different story. They were using needles that weren’t being sterilized,” Christensen said.

The health department investigation began Sept. 22, after officials learned about the business.

“It was operating without anybody’s knowledge,” Christensen said.

Home-based piercing businesses can be a problem for public health officials because they can’t inspect them if they don’t know they are operating.

There are no government regulations on tattooing and piercing, but there are guidelines. Piercing equipment should be sterilized using an autoclave, a heater that kills any organisms on the piercing instruments.

Venom Ink’s piercing business could resume if they acquire the proper equipment.

“They would have to have the proper equipment there to sterilize the instruments they use.” Piercing studios are also required to maintain records of their procedures.

People who received piercing services from Venom Ink should also take precautions until it can be ruled out they were not exposed to transmission of infectious diseases.

Affected individuals should:

• use a condom during sexual activity

• avoid sharing razors, clippers, toothbrushes

Anyone with questions should contact the infectious disease program at Niagara’s public health department at 1-888-505-6074, or 905-688-8248, ext. 7330. The region set up an after-hours number at 905-984-3690.

source: http://www.nfreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1233568