Oregon Written Tattoo Practice Test

What should always be sterilized in tattoo practice?

1. Instruments

2. Needles

3. Work surfaces

4. Gloves

The correct answer is: Needles

In tattoo practice, sterilization is crucial for preventing infections and ensuring the safety of both the artist and the client. Needles are considered a single-use item and must always be sterilized or, more appropriately, should be discarded after a single use. Tattoo needles penetrate the skin and come into direct contact with a person's bloodstream, so using clean, sterilized needles is vital to avoid the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV and Hepatitis C. While instruments used in tattooing and work surfaces should also be properly sanitized and may require disinfection procedures, they do not carry the same level of risk as needles, which directly contact the skin and blood. Similarly, gloves are important for protecting both the client and the tattoo artist during the procedure but do not require sterilization in the same sense. Instead, they should always be new and used once during each session. Emphasizing the necessity of sterilization for needles highlights the critical aspect of hygiene and safety in tattoo practices.