Tattoo, Aids/HIV and other infectious diseases

When thinking of having a tattoo done first of all remember that it involves your skin being pierced and forming an open sore and that blood will also be involved in this procedure.

This alone should get warning lights going off, since working with open "wounds" and blood opens the entire Pandora's box of Aids and Hepatitis infection.

In saying this, the risk of HIV as well as hepatitis transmission exists if all instruments are not properly sterilized and disinfected.

When having this type of work done, ask the person/company what type of safety precautions are taken to prevent the spread of blood borne infections, such as HIV or hepatitis.

When having any piercing or tattoos the risk of disease transmission exists if stringent safety measures are not met by the artist / operator and one of the basic things would be the use of sterile and sealed needles.

Should you however decide to have some body-art or tattooing done, first make sure that you use a professional person that will also take care about the health aspect when creating a piece of art on your skin.

Some pointers when selecting a tattoo artist

• He/she must use new needles must be used at all times and the tattoo artist must be disposing of used needles in a responsible way after autoclaving them.

• New needles come in sterile sealed packages and it is your right to insist seeing the sealed package before he/she starts with creating body art.

• The working area must be neat and clean and must be sterilized after each customer to minimize the risk of any bacterial infection.

• New unused razors must be used when shaving hair from areas to be tattooed.

• Use new ink must be used for each customer.

• A health board license (if applicable in your country, state, province) to attest that the premises and practice have passed health standards.

• Also check your local city ordinances to see what applies in your area.

Questions that you were to afraid to ask

• Spreading the virus
• Kissing and Aids
• Oral sex
• Vaginal sex and Aids
• Anal sex and Aids
• Male condoms
• Female condoms
• Drug use and the spreading of Aids
• Tattoos
• Health care workers at risk
• "Rapid" home assay devices
• Approved drugs and treatments
• Life cycle of the HIV virus
• Aids Symptoms
• Approved drugs for AIDS treatment

Please remember - if you have any question regarding your health, or are concerned about the possibility of having this disease, please discuss it with your health practitioner.

Laboratory testing is still the preferable way to test for HIV infection, since it is done in a clinical setting, but should you be concerned about your status after reading any of the facts about HIV infection you could look at our Aids home test kit which is a quick "Rapid" type of test to do initial screening and to ascertain the presence of antibodies. For more on information, please click here.

Our home test kits

• Urine test strips - testing for:
  • Glucose
  • Ketones
  • Blood / Hemoglobin
  • Protein
  • Nitrite
  • pH
  • Urobilinogen
  • Bilirubin
  • Leucocytes
  • Specific gravity
• Malaria test kit
• HIV / Aids home test kit
• Prostate test kit
• Breast Aware™ Breast cancer self examination pad
• Alcohol breathalyzer test
• Ovulation (Fertility) test kit

Information pages

• Urine testing

  • Kidneys and their functions

  • Kidney function regulating body fluids

  • Bilirubin in urine

  • Blood in urine

  • Glucose in urine

  • Ketones in urine

  • Leukocytes in urine

  • Nitrite in urine

  • ph of urine

  • Protein in urine

  • Specific gravity of urine

  • Urobilinogen in urine

  • Parameters of urine test strips (dip sticks)

• Malaria

  • General information on malaria

  • Types of malaria

  • People at high risk of malaria infection

  • Lifecycle of the plasmodium parasite

  • Preventing malaria

    • Protective clothing

    • Insect repellent

    • Bed / sleeping mosquito nets

    • Room management

  • Diagnosing malaria

  • Symptoms of malaria infection

  • Anti-malarial drugs

    • Doxycycline

    • Mefloquine (Larium™)

    • Atovaquone and proguanil combination (Malarone™)

  • Testing for malaria

    • Home testing

    • Laboratory testing

    • Other tests that could be done

  • Consequences and end result of malaria infection

  • Malaria in Southern and South Africa

• Breast cancer
  • Comprehensive information regarding breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
  • Comprehensive information regarding prostate cancer
• HIV / Aids

  • General information

    • Symptoms

    • Facts and frequently asked questions

    • Spreading the virus

    • Kissing

    • Oral Sex

    • Vaginal Sex

    • Anal Sex

    • Condoms

    • Female condoms

    • Drug Use

    • Tattoos

    • Health Care Workers and You

    • "Rapid" home Aids Tests

    • Approved drugs and treatments

    • Schematic drawing of life cycle

• Drugs of abuse

  • Drug detection periods

  • Most common drugs

  • How do drugs work

    • Amphetamines - speed, uppers

    • Cocaine - crack, nose candy

    • Methamphetamine - ecstasy, e, ice

    • Opiates - morphine, opium, heroin, codeine

    • Phencyclidine hydrochloride - pcp, angel dust

    • THC - cannabis, marijuana

• Ovulation, falling pregnant or times when you won't fall pregnant
  • Fertility drug
  • Ovulation calculator