Who is affected
If you provide personal services such as body piercing, tattooing, hairdressing, laser hair removal and various other aesthetic services, you – and your clients – are at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases.  The Ontario Ministry of Health has released a protocol specific to Personal Services Settings under the Infection Control Program. This protocol applies to any facility or person offering services where there is a risk of exposure to blood or bodily fluid, and has been developed to minimize the risk of contracting blood-borne infections for both Personal Service Workers and their clients.

Protocol
High risk establishments include any service where skin penetration is involved.  The protocol states that all items intended to penetrate skin or mucous membranes and items that hold sterile items must be sterilized.  The only acceptable methods of sterilization are an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer. Autoclaves or dry heat sterilizers must be regularly serviced and monitored. The sterilizer must also be tested monthly with commercially available heat resistant spores.

Program
Near North Laboratories Inc. is pleased to provide a monthly sterilizer monitoring program. The monitoring kit includes 3 test strips (2 to be placed in your sterilizer and 1 for a control), test instructions and a return envelope. Participants will receive an annual certificate of proficiency that has spaces for monthly stickers for successful tests; also included is a statement of analytical results.

Costs
Test kits are sold individually for $25.00 or by packages of 3 or 6 kits at a rate of $18.00 per kit (rate applies for multiple purchase only).

Turn Around Time
Expected turn-around time for the final test report is 1 week.  This will vary depending on sterilizer type and incubation period.

Health Unit
For more info about the Personal Services Settings protocol contact your local Health Unit’s
 Infection Control Program