The safest way to get a tattoo or piercing is to go to a professional. During
tattooing or piercing, HIV can be transmitted by tiny, invisible particles of
blood on equipment that has not been sterilized correctly. These particles can
also be in the tattoo ink.
Professional piercers:
- use jewelry made of surgical steel or niobium,
- don’t use stud guns.
Professional tattooists:
- pour ink into new, disposable containers,
- use these containers only for your tattoo.
Professional piercers and tattooists:
- use sterile needles every time,
- wear latex gloves,
- have information about safety posted or in the waiting area,
- give instructions on how to prevent infection (after-care),
- are experienced and knowledgeable,
- sterilize reusable equipment in an autoclave ( a machine that uses
very hot water to sterilize equipment-equipment should be sterilized at 121°C
(250°F) for 30 minutes).
How do I choose a safe place to get a tattoo or piercing?
Get information from your local health department. Visit different shops and
ask to see:
- special containers for disposal of used needles (bio-hazard containers),
- disposable ink cups for tattoo inks,
- the autoclave (with a temperature gauge), and
- some sterilized packages (should have black lines on packages to indicate
that they have reached the right temperature).
Check out several businesses; ask questions about their experience
and safety measures. If you are not satisfied, LEAVE.
If you have already had an amateur or professional tattoo and think you may
have been infected with HIV, hepatitis, or any other blood-borne illness, you
should consider getting tested (see Question “Should
I get tested for HIV?” and Question “How
do I get tested?”).
Remember, behaviours and activities that put you at risk for HIV infection
also put you at risk for infection by other viruses. Co-infection (having more
than one illness at one time) rates are increasing in Canada, particularly for
HIV and hepatitis C. Approximately 11,200 people are infected with both viruses
(see Question “Is
there a connection between HIV and hepatitis C?").
Additional Resources
Tattoos
and Piercings
For more information, contact your local
AIDS service organization or health care practitioner.
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