South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-111 - STANDARDS FOR LICENSING TATTOO FACILITIES
Sec2 61-111.1200 - INFECTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENT
Section 61-111.1200.1204 - Sterilization of Equipment (I)

A. All used equipment intended for reuse, such as tubes or grips, shall be properly scrubbed clean of visible materials and soaked for a minimum of twenty (20) minutes in a liquid germicidal solution approved by the Department, which shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's direction. The equipment shall then be immediately placed in a mechanical ultrasonic cleanser for at least twenty-five (25) minutes prior to being re-sterilized by autoclave. The ultrasonic cleanser shall be clearly labeled as "biohazardous" and shall be located as far as possible from the autoclave within the disinfection or sterilization area.

B. A facility utilizing single-use or disposable equipment and/or instruments shall not be required to re-sterilize by autoclave those single-use and/or disposable items provided they are utilized and disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer's direction and not reused in any manner on another client.

C. Facilities shall properly package and sterilize by autoclave those instruments, equipment, and other tattoo items other than inks and electrical instruments that are not single-use or disposable, shall include a sterile indicator, and shall include a label with the date of sterilization. Sterile items shall not be used if the package integrity has been breached.

D. Each facility shall keep a current written log for the previous two (2) years of autoclave use, including, but not limited to, the date and time of use and results of sterilization spore test strip tests.

E. The effectiveness of the autoclave in killing bacterial endospores shall be tested at least once each month.