Tattoo clients urged to get tested for hepatitis and HIV

Health officials are warning anyone who received a tattoo at a downtown Edmonton home to be tested for hepatitisand HIV.

Alberta Health Servicesis urging anyonewho received a tattoo from a home business namedTazzmanTattoo or from the operator SteveTazzDevilmanto get tested.

The business at #301, 10724 105 Street, which was never inspected, usedunsanitary tattoo procedures, saidDr. ChrisSikora, Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health.

"We were able to do a complete inspection and found that the sanitary conditions were unacceptable for current standards and regulations for delivery of tattoos in any situation," he said.

AHSordered the business closedon March 21. Clients are advised to get tested forillnesses like Hepatitisand HIV.

AreolLeason, who says she's the fiance of the tattoo artist, says that he used sterile and there was no reason for AHS to intervene.

"Nobody's beingaffected by his hobby," she told CBC News.

Worried clients can call Health Link Alberta at1-866-408-5465(LINK) to arrange for testing.

To confirm that atattoo operation in the cityisinspected, peoplecan callAHSEnvironmental Public Health at780-735-1800.