A tattoo shop operating out of an Edmonton home has been ordered to shut down by Alberta Health Services due to unsanitary conditions.
AHS said anyone who received a tattoo from Noeyez Tattooz should be tested for viruses that can spread through unsanitary tattoo procedures.
“Due to the unsanitary conditions that were identified during the inspection, there is an increased risk of blood-borne viruses, specifically hepatitis B, C and HIV,” Dr. Christopher Sikora, medical officer of health for the Edmonton Zone of AHS, said.
The home-based operation is located in the area of 115 Avenue and 32 Street. Sikora said many safe tattooing practices were not followed by the operator of Noeyez Tattooz.
“Obtaining tattoos can be a very safe process and to be assured of a safe tattoo experience, things have to be done in a sanitary manner, which means single-use needles, single-use devices wherever possible and one ink capsule per client,” he explained.
“Many of those practices were not being followed by this operator who has not actually ever been inspected by Alberta Health Services.”
READ MORE: Health and safety tips to consider before getting a tattoo
Sikora said anyone who gets inked in an Alberta tattoo parlour should ask to see their AHS certificate.
“Operators should not be operating unless they have an AHS certificate,” he urged. “People shouldn’t be providing tattoos in their house. We have many studios across Edmonton and across Alberta that are providing tattoos in a safe environment. They’re following the safe practices.
“These underground operators are relatively rare, relatively uncommon. For the sake of public health and the sake of keeping our public healthy, we much prefer that if people decide to tattoo, they use one of our safe, approved operators.”
It’s not known how many people received tattoos from Noeyez Tattooz as Sikora said client records were not adequately kept.