While not always socially accepted, tattoos are largely recognized as a safe and admissible choice as long as both the artist and recipient make informed, healthy decisions. Unfortunately, this basic requirement was reportedly disregarded in Ontario County, Canada, where a home-based tattooist may have exposed his clients to non-sterile equipment. The artist’s clients are being urged to contact the Durham Region health department to discuss the case.

The health department has stated that James Armstrong, a tattooist, provides mobile or home-based services out of a residence located at 230A Bruce Street in Oshawa, Canada. The organization is now concerned that Armstrong may have used tools that could not be confirmed sterile while creating these tattoos. As a result, the health department has ordered Armstrong to cease providing any type of service where diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV could be transmitted. This includes creating tattoos and piercings.

Sterility is an important consideration in almost every industry, from body modification to medical technology. As a result, tools must not only be properly cleaned and maintained, but also packaged and delivered properly to avoid contamination. Delivering sterile products for use in patient care depends not only on the effectiveness of the sterilization process, but also on the unit design, decontamination, disassembling and packaging of the device, the installation of the sterilizer, monitoring, sterile quality and quantity, and the appropriateness of the cycle for the load contents, and other factors.

Currently, the health department has stated that it has no evidence that Anderson facilitated the transmission of infectious diseases, but in cases like these, the risk is always present. While the number of clients is expected to be small, the health department reports that Anderson has been uncooperative and they are uncertain of the full extent of the situation. As a result, anyone who received a tattoo from Armstrong or another tattooist at 230A Bruce St. in Oshawa have been asked to contact the Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6241. The line is in operation Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Health department staff with provide information on recommended follow-up tests to rule out any blood-born infections at the time of the call.