Abesha Care HIV//AIDS Intiative

Content Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

A risk of HIV transmission does exist if instruments contaminated
with blood are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used
inappropriately between clients. CDC recommends that single-use
instruments intended to penetrate the skin be used once, then
disposed of. Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the
skin and/or contact a client's blood should be thoroughly cleaned
and sterilized between clients.

View the CDC fact sheet on the sterilization of patient-care
equipment and HIV (from the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality
Promotion Web site).

Personal service workers who do tattooing or body piercing should
be educated about how HIV is transmitted and take precautions to
prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections in
their settings.

If you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body pierced,
ask staff at the establishment what procedures they use to prevent
the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, such as the
hepatitis B virus. You also may call the local health department to
find out what sterilization procedures are in place in the local area
for these types of establishments.

Questions and Answers

		Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?

Transmission