A Toronto Public Health investigation of ``It`s Just Body Art``, located at 1072 Wilson Ave., has found that infection control practices between September 28, 2009 and September 30, 2010 may not have been adequate to prevent the potential spread of blood borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. “We’ve had no reports of infections associated with this shop. The risk is very low, but as a precaution, we are advising anyone who received a tattoo or body piercing at this location between September 28, 2009 and September 30, 2010 to see their doctor to be tested for these infections,” said Dr. Herveen Sachdeva, Associate Medical Officer of Health.
In addition to speaking with your doctor to discuss testing, you can call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 416-338-7600 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Staff can answer questions and send information to your doctor to help with testing.
All equipment used for body piercing and tattooing must be sterile and sterilizers must be tested every two weeks to ensure they are functioning properly. In addition, clients of personal service settings such as piercing and tattoo establishments should check to see that operators:
• wash hands and change gloves between clients
• use an antiseptic on the skin before procedures
• are opening sterilized packages of equipment for every client.
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