Disease Prevention
Because Washington DC currently has no regulation or licensing for tattooing and body piercing, it is extremely important that all tattoo and body piercing establishments create their own safeguards and standards, and that these standards be applied in daily operations. At Fatty's, all tattoo artists, body piercers and apprentice's have taken and passed Dr Kris Sperry's test titled "Preventing Disease Transmission in Tattooing and Related Body Arts". We apply the use of "Universal precautions" in our daily operations. "Universal Precautions" is a set of precautions defined by the Center For Disease Control as: "All human blood and bodily fluids are treated as if they are known to contain HBV, HIV, or other bloodborne pathogens"
Here are some of the ways in which "Universal Precautions" are applied at Fatty's Custom Tattooz:
1. All sterilizing is done with an autoclave. The autoclave is tested regularly by conducting spore tests. Spore testing is a method used in testing the effectiveness of sterilization.
2. All needles are single use
3. All tattoo and piercing needles and applicable tools are sterilized. All inks used in tattooing are new and disposed of after every tattoo. Handwashing before and after every procedure or break.
4. The proper use of gloves and barrier protection during tattooing, piercing and cleanup.
5. Proper disposal of sharps in a designated sharps container.
6. Proper disinfection and preparation of all surfaces used in tattooing or piercing.
7. Frequent handwashing!
8. Awareness and practice of cross-contamination avoidance.
These precautions are essential in keeping tattooing and piercing safe and clean!