Sterilization Equipment for Tattoo Shops

Tattoo shops need to sterilize their equipment, and most often, autoclaves are used for this purpose because the heat, water, steam, and pressure used in an autoclave is reliable for sterilization and has a long history. In today’s blog article we are going to talk about how sterilization is implemented in a tattoo shop. 

There are several parts in the tattoo equation that need regular sterilization: 

Needles 

Needles fit into a tattoo gun and need sterilization after each use before going on to the next client.  During a tattoo, the needle pierces the skin surface and injects ink into the dermis which is one or two millimetres below the surface. Sterilizing needles rids the needles of any microorganisms that are collected on them from a client and prevents passing these microbes to another client. 

Tubes 

Tubes are filled with ink and connected to the needle. These tubes also have to be sterilized if they are stainless steel. Some tattoo artists use plastic tubes that are disposable. Please note that some plastic materials can be autoclaved, but this would have to be discussed with your autoclave professional. 

Grips and the Machine 

Grips attached to the gun itself, and some parts of the machine may also need sterilization. One of the great advantages of using an autoclave for this task is that the autoclave process can handle many types of materials in different shapes and sizes. Microorganisms hidden in nooks and crannies (like inside a needle) will be sterilized as well as the outside. 

An autoclave is an excellent solution for a tattoo business, and there are autoclaves of all shapes and sizes to accommodate the size the business and frequency of sterilization needed. Discuss this with your autoclave professional who will be happy to help you. 

If you need help choosing, repairing, maintaining, installing, operating, or validating an autoclave, this is our business and area of expertise for many years. Give us a call, in western Canada at (888) 818-4847. We can help with every aspect of autoclaves including choosing the right one for you.

Alpha Scientific supplies, installs, and services medical equipment in western Canada. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about medical equipment, please call our toll-free number, (888) 818-4847, or email us at sales@alphascientific.ca.