Risks for HIV from

Tattoos & Piercing

The risk of HIV infection does exist if instruments contaminated with blood are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used inappropriately between clients. It is recommended that instruments that are intended to penetrate the skin are used only once then disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.

Tattooists and body piercing staff should be educated about how HIV is transmitted and take precautions to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections in their settings. If you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask staff at the establishment what procedures they use to prevent the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

While there is little risk from tattooists or body piercing studios in the UK due to stringent health and safety law, not everyone is tattooed or pierced by qualified staff nor tattooed/pierced in the UK.

If you have had a tattoo or piercing from either an unqualified practitioner (e.g. in prison) or outside Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand and you have not been tested for HIV or hepatitis, you should consider doing so.

Click here for details of how to get a test.

Or contact us for more information