EDMONTON - A veteran tattoo artist says people should be very careful and ask lots of questions about cleanliness and safety before baring their skin for a tattoo.
The warning comes after customers of Zipp's Tattoo parlour in Edmonton were urged to get tested for HIV and hepatitis after it was closed due to unsanitary conditions.
Health officials say unsterilized instruments were found in the parlour, artists were not using enough antiseptic and the operator was also tattooing animals in the studio.
Health Canada provides safety guidelines to operators but does not regulate the growing industry, leaving it to each province to set standards.
Sam Sheinin of Lucky Strike Custom Tattoos says customers should check the general cleanliness of a parlour, ask how equipment is sterilized and ensure that the artists wear rubber gloves.
Sheinin also says people should not get tattoos from `scratchers - people who give low-cost tattoos out of their homes. '
