Micropigmentation design of equipment and disinfecting

Various models of micropigmentation machines have very different configurations of how they are assembled. We have noticed that some do not have a complete motor interface seal and or protective plate (part of the reused section of the instrument that protects the motor). This means that the motor drive can become contaminated with used pigment and there is the risk that this will be injected into the next client.

If you are unable to verify that your machine has a complete seal then the following steps must be applied to achieve equipment disinfection. If followed correctly the part of the machine housing the motor can be cleaned and disinfected and can be reused without the risk of cross contamination between clients. The following process must be completed between each client and before the next use of the equipment.

1. Any non-replacement part of the equipment that has or may have become contaminated must be partially submerged, i.e. to cover all contaminated regions, in an ultrasonic bath containing an appropriate ultrasonic cleaning solution.
2. The manufacturer may recommend that you use a clamp stand if the whole hand piece is not suitable for submerging.
3. Remove the black 'o' ring with a cocktail stick which is then disposed of to avoid cross contamination. The 'o' ring must be disposed of after every procedure and replaced with a new one once the cleaning process is complete.
4. The cleaning solution should be made up and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Most ultrasonic baths come with a detergent or a specific brand is advised in their manual. The individual running time is unknown and you should seek advice from the manufacturer.
5. Dip and or rinse in water the hand piece and or submerged area whichever the manufacturer recommends.
6. Using a clamp and stand if appropriate, immerse in disinfectant the hand piece or submerged area.  Area should be immersed for the correct contact time of the disinfectant. 
7. The disinfectant must be fresh and the correct concentration.
8. Again dip and or rinse in fresh water the hand piece or submerged area.
9. Run the hand piece to remove excess water and dry with disposable towel.

The disinfectant must be capable of killing bacteria and blood-borne viruses including hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. The council does not recommend specific brands of disinfectant for this purpose but commercially available disinfection products are available from companies such as Trigene, Virkon, and Steris.