60 percent of South Carolina Tattoo artists tested were infected with hep C

[cfree]

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 I read this here:
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:EHHD80u4qt0J:www.policeone.com/police-products/apparel/gloves/articles/56608/+%2260+percent+of+those+tested+were+infected%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us


At least 75 percent of the people infected with hep C don''t even know it, according to Debbie Borst, a registered nurse who does in-service health care training for South Carolina police agencies. Those numbers held true in a recent statewide study that required a hep C test for tattoo artists renewing their licenses. The study revealed that more than 60 percent of those tested were infected with hep C and completely unaware.

So the study says most tattoo artists have Hep C .
I know accidental needle sticks happen in the hospital, I would bet they happen in the cleanest tattoo shops!

[Helen]

 Those numbers held true in a recent statewide study that required a hep C test for tattoo artists renewing their licenses. The study revealed that more than 60 percent of those tested were infected with hep C and completely unaware.

 Wow,    Im surprised the amount was so high, I figured maybe 30-40%.
 I think its a good idea having them have to test for the disease to renew thier license.

 Helen

[robin]

Even if 100% are positive...it should not interfer with their ability to practice their craft. You would be amazed at the number of doctors and nurses that are infected. Keep your spirits high...robin

[cfree]

Even if 100% are positive...it should not interfer with their ability to practice their craft. You would be amazed at the number of doctors and nurses that are infected. Keep your spirits high...robin

Right robin, but isn't a tattoo or piercing optional? I would love to see the public more educated on all this. If body artists with Hep C were required to hand out a sheet warning:

" I have Hep C , you are more likely to get Hep C from tattoos and piercing than from sex"

It would help the public see how serious it is.

 I bet the people who got Hep C from tattoos in this study wish they would have been warned:
 http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:mhWEwXg9l68J:www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/04/02/daily19.html+%22twice+as+many+hepatitis+C+infections+as+injection-drug+%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

[cfree]

I went to visit my local state licensed tattoo and piercing shop today. I'd just been to a farm supply office and that office seemed cleaner than the tattoo shop. Bob the tattooist did have the proper things  for cleaning his tattoo gear. Bob told me the details of how they clean the tattoo gun, and the tube the needle slides in. Provided they cleaned everything perfectly each time it  might be marginally safe.

I did see that there is a lot of little parts of the gear that they attempt to clean or sterilize in the office. Only the needle and ink is new each time.

 Then he showed me the gun in action . I saw a tattooist that was tattooing a client. He would look up at me talk,wipe the needle,turn and get ink and swing the gun quickly back into action. He repeated this action very rapidly, about once every 3 seconds. I wanted to shout "watch out you are coming close to poking your hand there!". All it would take with this process is one slip-up , one easy poke through the tattooists gloved hand to create blood to blood contact.

It looked a little like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6ipzS8x0aI

[Hank's mom]

So many people are getting tattoos, especially teens, these days that these facts should be getting some front page attention. I find it distressing to see the prevalence on tv, movies, etc. and the lure of being sexier, tougher, whatever is a big lure. There is a commercial for one of the cell phone co.s, can't remember which, in which a girl asks her parents for a cell phone and the mom answers, "Wouldn't you rather have a tattoo dear?" Shows how little is known about the hep problem.
momxfive

[JustBlue]

I am not too sure to which conventions or tattoo shops you have seen but I have to say that I have seen several over the years, have many tattoos, and no, I did not acquire the virus from tattoos. I have seen some extremely scary shops where I would not sit in the seats in their waiting area, never mind get work done there. Like any business, there are fine and there are horrific. I seldom eat in restaurants because I can't see from where the food comes or is prepared.

At conventions I have attended, there have always been an army of persons whose responsibility was to monitor the event, ensuring that health safety measures and rules are followed. While getting a tattoo is indeed a choice, I sometimes wonder about people who have their children's ears pierced in the corner shopping mall at the earring counter. What's on those tools, and how are they sterilized?

While laws vary in countries, states, and provinces, licenses are required and often in many places, the tattooists must be tested regularly.

Hep being what it is, I believe one tattoist said it best to me a few years back:
When it comes to tattooing, it is best to approach it with the belief that everyone is infected and to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your business. In following that statement, the tattooist would want to completely ensure that he/she was not involved in any needle pricks and that all equipment was completely sterilized so as not to spread the virus among clients.

If one wants to speak about tools and gloves and infecting others, why not bring in dentists and hygienists into the fray? They also use tools which need sterilizing and gloves to protect themselves.
I don't see any posting at my dentist office proclaiming the staff as virus free.

It all comes down to education in all matters and protecting oneself in every manner possible.

[cfree]

I am not too sure to which conventions or tattoo shops you have seen but I have to say that I have seen several over the years, have many tattoos, and no, I did not acquire the virus from tattoos. I have seen some extremely scary shops where I would not sit in the seats in their waiting area, never mind get work done there. Like any business, there are fine and there are horrific. I seldom eat in restaurants because I can't see from where the food comes or is prepared.

At conventions I have attended, there have always been an army of persons whose responsibility was to monitor the event, ensuring that health safety measures and rules are followed. While getting a tattoo is indeed a choice, I sometimes wonder about people who have their children's ears pierced in the corner shopping mall at the earring counter. What's on those tools, and how are they sterilized?

While laws vary in countries, states, and provinces, licenses are required and often in many places, the tattooists must be tested regularly.

Hep being what it is, I believe one tattoist said it best to me a few years back:
When it comes to tattooing, it is best to approach it with the belief that everyone is infected and to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your business. In following that statement, the tattooist would want to completely ensure that he/she was not involved in any needle pricks and that all equipment was completely sterilized so as not to spread the virus among clients.

If one wants to speak about tools and gloves and infecting others, why not bring in dentists and hygienists into the fray? They also use tools which need sterilizing and gloves to protect themselves.
I don't see any posting at my dentist office proclaiming the staff as virus free.

It all comes down to education in all matters and protecting oneself in every manner possible.

I agree JustBlue,It all comes down to education in all matters and protecting oneself in every manner possible. But I already have Hep C so all the education and protection in the world won't help me, so I try to inform those who want to stay Hep C free.

I also agree with you on bringing dentists and hygienists into the fray.

When I see a study that says" more than 60 percent of dentists tested were infected with hep C "

I will post it right away, I trust you would too. If we can educate even one person it's worth it.