New blood regs affect tattoo parlors

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — In the past, tattoos have been a complicating factor for individuals seeking to make a blood donation.

Concerns about the sanitary — or not so sanitary – practices of tattoo artists and concerns about the spread of hepatitis, HIV, and other blood-borne infections contributed to rules about how much time had to elapse between the acquisition of a tattoo and the donation of blood.

However, two separate regulation changes should increase blood donations by young adults — the population most likely to get tattoos and body piercing — and also ensure the safety of New Mexico tattoo and body art shops.
On Oct. 27, United Blood Services, the nonprofit community blood provider for the Four Corners region, instituted a rule change regarding potential blood donors with recent tattoos. In the past, United Blood Services required people with recent tattoos to wait a year from the date of the tattoo before they donated blood. Since the Oct.

27 regulation change, people with recent tattoos will be able to donate blood once the tattoo has healed, which is usually in one to two weeks, if they were tattooed in a state-regulated tattoo shop with sterile needles and ink that is not reused.

In addition, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department is now requiring all tattoo artists and owners of body art facilities in the state to apply for licensure by Wednesday, Nov. 12. The new licensure requirements govern the practice of tattooing, body piercing, and related body art services and are intended to safeguard public health.

Phil Lucero, owner of The House of Pain in Grants, said he has already paid his licensure fee and completed the application process. Lucero, who was contacted by telephone on Tuesday, said he is just waiting for his license to arrive.

According to Lucero, the new statewide regulations are nothing new to his business because he previously had a tattoo business in Albuquerque, where similar regulations were already in effect. “I was doing all this to begin with,” he said.

However, Lucero is supportive of the statewide regulations, he explained, because in the past anyone could set up shop and possibly endanger the health of their customers.
“I think it’s good for the whole state of New Mexico,” Lucero said.

Information:
www.unitedbloodservices.org and www.rld.state.nm.us/BarbersCosmetologists/licensing.html