Tattoos: What a person should know before getting one Published July 16, 2009 By 319th Medical Operations Squadron GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- You've seen them everywhere. Either you love or hate them. What are they? TATTOOS! Well before you decide to get one, there are a few things that you should know. In North Dakota a person may not operate a facility providing tattooing, body piercing, branding, subdermal implant, or scarification services without a permit issued by the North Dakota state health department (ND Division of Food/Lodging 23-01-35). When searching for a tattoo shop, check to make sure all areas of the shop are clean and free of dirt and debris, including the artist. The artist should demonstrate good personal hygiene as well as washing his hands before donning gloves and changing gloves in between customers. If your artist is using disposable needles, they should be discarding the needles in a biohazard container. If machines and non-disposable needles are used, they must be sterilized in an autoclave which is a heated device used to pressurize the instruments and kill any virus or bacteria that may be present. The ink that is used for the tattoo should be placed in a single use cup then disposed of after each procedure. The ink should never be used from the main bottle or leftover ink from another customer. The artist should also provide aftercare instructions for your tattoo. If these items aren't followed, you are at a higher risk for contracting HIV, Hepatitis B & C or an infection at the site. The typical signs of an infection are inflammation, swelling, localized tenderness, pus/bloody discharge, fever or pain radiating from the site more than 48 hours after the procedure. Please remember that even though it may be cheaper to have a tattoo done by someone in your home, it is not safe. After all it's your life we are talking about. If you have any questions, please call Public Health at 747-5511.