DO YOU:
• Thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial solution immediately before and after each
tattoo application?
• Wear latex gloves during the tattooing procedure?
• Use single service materials and equipment (i.e., each needle and tube set is individually
packaged, dated and sealed, and autoclave sterilized), and set up and open them in front
of the client?
• Use sterile disposable needles?
• Have an FDA-regulated autoclave on site?
• Sanitize your work space with an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)-approved
veridical disinfectant, preferably one that kills tuberculosis, before and after each client?
• Thoroughly rinse tube/needle set from tattoo machine using an ultrasonic tank before
discarding?
• Properly dispose of contaminated materials?
• Measure how the person who you talk with answers your questions—are they considerate
and thorough, or are they annoyed by your inquisitiveness? You have a right to have your
questions answered thoroughly in advance. When you get there, check out the studio—
make sure it looks and feels clean. If you get there and you’re uncomfortable,
you can leave.