Sanitary vs Sterile in tattooing

What does sterile actually mean?

In strict medical terms, sterile means completely free of all living microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores etc.). It’s a clinical standard most commonly associated with hospitals and surgical environments.

Sterilisation requires validated processes such as steam under pressure in an autoclave. In Australia, tattoo studios that use reusable equipment must sterilise it using compliant autoclaves that meet standards aligned with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency guidelines and relevant state Public Health Act.

Here's the thing: not everything in a tattoo studio needs to be sterile.

Only items that penetrate the skin or come into direct contact with blood or bodily fluids must be sterile, including:

• Tattoo needles (single use, pre sterilised)

• Needle bars or cartridges

• Tubes and grips (if reusable, the must be sterilised between clients)

Some studios/artists use pre-packaged,single-use sterile needles and cartridges. Once opened and used, they are disposed of in sharps containers.

What does sanitary mean in tattooing?

“Sanitary” refers to surfaces and equipment that are disinfected and free from visible contamination. Sanitary is not sterile

For example:

• Tattoo machines (the motor body itself)

• Power supplies & clip cords

• Beds & arm rests

• Wash bottles
  

These items don’t penetrate the skin, so sterilisation isn’t required. Instead, they are:

• Wrapped in barrier film

• Covered in disposable protective sleeves

• Disinfected with hospital-grade surface disinfectants between clients

In Australia, tattoo studios operate under state and territory health regulations such as NSW Health, which clearly outline cleaning and infection control standards.

So why the confusion?

The confusion often comes from marketing language. Some studios advertise themselves as “100% sterile environments.” While it sounds reassuring, it’s technically inaccurate.

The main requirements include:

• Clinical waste disposal

• Sterile, single use equipment of anything that pierces skin

• Proper sterilisation of reusable equipment via autoclave

• Hand hygiene and PPE (e.g gloves)

• Strict cross contamination prevention

When these proper hygiene standards are followed, tattooing is extremely safe. Clean where it should be & sterile where it should be because the only thing you should be taking home from studio, is a sick tattoo (: