KANPUR (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 2: A 32-year-old woman from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh,
tested positive for HIV last month after getting a tattoo at a parlor in Delhi
with a suspected contaminated needle. She is under treatment at GSVM Medical
College Hospital. The hospital has put her on a Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
HIV has no permanent cure, and patients need lifelong medicine.
Go to certified tattoo studios, if you still insist on getting it done for
no reason.
Tattoo safety checklist
New needle: The artist must open a sealed, sterile blister pack in front
of you.
Autoclave on site: The shop should use a medical-grade machine to sterilize
multi-use gear.
Fresh ink caps: Ink must be poured into single-use, disposable plastic
cups.
New disposable gloves: The artist must wear gloves and change them if
they touch anything else.
Plastic barriers: Plastic wrap must cover cords, spray bottles and the
artist's workspace.
Certified studio: The parlor should display a valid health department
licence or registration.
Clean skin prep: The artist must clean your skin with a medical antiseptic
before starting.
Clear aftercare advice: The studio must give you printed or digital
instructions for healing.
Red flags to watch for
- Reusing ink leftover from a previous client's session.
- Dipping a needle back into shared, bulk ink bottles.
- Wiping down needles with just wet tissues or alcohol.
- Working in a dusty room or a space shared with pets.
