Unapproved piercing operation closed; clients require testing (South Zone)
August 9, 2011
COLEMAN – Following the closure of the unapproved Victor Proctor piercing operation, located within the Tommy Gun Tattoo shop in the town of Coleman (municipality of Crowsnest Pass), Alberta Health Services (AHS) is advising all individuals who received piercings from this operator be tested for viruses that can be spread through unsanitary piercing procedures.
Please note: this advisory does NOT apply to tattoo services provided by Tommy Gun Tattoos. Tommy Gun Tattoos has been inspected and approved to provide tattoo services. This advisory applies strictly to the unapproved independently run Victor Proctor piercing operation, co-located within the Tommy Gun parlour.
“The Victor Proctor piercing operation did not have proper sterilization processes in place, meaning individuals who received piercings at this operation may have been exposed to viruses such as Hepatitis B and C, and HIV,” says Dr. Vivien Suttorp, Medical Officer of Health, AHS South Zone.
“To prevent the spread of infection from one person to another, equipment used in piercing and other procedures where the skin is broken, must be cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized according to health standards, or be a single-use item.”
Simple blood tests can determine whether an individual has been infected. Anyone who received piercings from the Victor Proctor piercing operation, located within Tommy Gun Tattoo shop, should contact Alberta Health Services at 403-388-6664 to arrange for testing.
AHS public health officials became aware of the Victor Proctor piercing operation during a routine AHS inspection of the Tommy Gun Tattoo shop.
To confirm that any tattoo, piercing, or related operation, is inspected and approved, call AHS Environmental Public Health at 403-388-6690.
All closure orders issued by AHS are posted: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/3150.asp
(click on “South” to see those in South Zone). People are also encouraged to ask any piercing or tattoo operation for a copy of the facility’s most recent Health Inspection Report.
See the attached Backgrounder for further advice on selecting a safe piercing/tattooing facility.
For general health information about tattoos and piercings, call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-LINK (5465).
Alberta Health Services is responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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