HIV cannot be given to you from a dirty or used tattoo needle
Everyone seems to be on point but I just want to point one thing out, HIV cannot be given to you from a dirty or used tattoo needle (they are not hypodermic needles that can hold living blood cells) but can get hepatitis or the like from a dirty needle. But HIV can be given to you from a dirty needle tube. So, not only do you want to watch the artist set up his entire work station (what we refer to as a sterile station) you need to watch him open the needle pouch and most devinately watch him open the tube pouch. You can even go as far as asking him to see the pouches before he opens it. If the they have been properly sterilized the printed or stamped ink on the back of the package will be purple (or if a different style of pouch ask him to see an unused pouch and compare the backs of the new unused one against the one containing the tube). In a tattoo shop needles are thrown away after every use but the tubes are reused over and over again. If the artist in question has even the slytest problem with allowing this then by all means walk out of the shop, call the local health department and tell them what you experienced. Rest assured they will pay the shop a visit.
After a tattoo is completed the tubes are sent to the shops cleaning room. The tubes are soaked in an ultrasonic bath for at least an hour. They are then scrubbed with a special soap and cleaning utensils. They are then placed back in the ultrasonic cleaner they are then rinsed and allowed to dry. They are then placed in an autoclave to be sterilized. So, you see, needles are not reused but the tubes are. Most people are so worried bout the needles but it is the tubes you need be concerned with.
