Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)
Chapter 246-145 - Body art, body piercing, electrology and tattooing standards for sterilization procedures and infection control
Section 246-145-010 - Definitions

(1) "Antiseptic" means an agent that destroys disease causing microorganisms on human skin or mucosa.

(2) "Aseptic technique" means a procedure that prevents contamination of any object or person.

(3) "Bloodborne pathogens" means microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HBC) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

(4) "Body art" means the practice of invasive cosmetic adornment including the use of branding and scarification. Body art also includes the intentional production of scars upon the body. Body art does not include any health-related procedures performed by licensed health care practitioners under their scope of practice.

(5) "Body piercing" means the process of penetrating the skin or mucous membrane to insert an object, including jewelry, for cosmetic purposes. Body piercing also includes any scar tissue resulting from or relating to the piercing. Body piercing does not include the use of stud and clasp piercing systems to pierce the earlobe in accordance with the manufacturer's directions and applicable FDA requirements. Body piercing does not include any health-related procedures performed by licensed health care practitioners under their scope of practice, nor does anything in this act authorize a person registered to engage in the business of body piercing to implant or embed foreign objects into the human body or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.

(6) "Branding" means inducing a pattern of scar tissue by use of a heated material (usually metal) to the skin creating a serious burn which eventually results in a scar.

(7) "Department" means the department of licensing.

(8) "Disinfectant" means a substance or solution, registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that kills or inactivates viruses and pathogenic microorganisms, but not necessarily their spores.

(9) "Disinfect" or "disinfection" means the destruction of disease-causing microorganisms on inanimate objects or surfaces, thereby rendering these objects safe for use or handling.

(10) "Electrologist" means a person who practices the business of electrology for a fee.

(11) "Electrology" means the process of permanently removing hair by using solid needle or probe electrode epilation, including:

(12) "FDA" means United States Food and Drug Administration.

(13) "Gloves" means single-use disposable medical grade gloves that are FDA approved.

(14) "Hand sanitizer" means an alcohol-based sanitizer with a concentration of 60% to 95% ethanol or isopropanol.

(15) "Jewelry" means any personal ornament inserted into a newly pierced area, which must be made of surgical implant-grade stainless steel, solid 14k or 18k white or yellow gold, niobium, titanium, or platinum, or a dense, low-porosity plastic, which is free of nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces and has been properly sterilized prior to use.

(16) "Licensee" means a shop, business or individual licensed to practice body art, body piercing or tattooing.

(17) "Procedure(s)" means body art, body piercing, and tattooing procedures.

(18) "Sanitize" means a procedure that reduces the level of microbial contamination so that the item or surface is considered safe.

(19) "Scarification" means altering skin texture by cutting the skin and controlling the body's healing process in order to produce wounds, which result in permanently raised wheals or bumps known as keloids.

(20) "Sharps" means any objects (sterile or contaminated) that may purposefully or accidentally cut or penetrate the skin or mucosa including, but not limited to, presterilized, single-use needles, scalpel blades, and razor blades.

(21) "Sharps container" means a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that can be closed for handling, storage, transportation, and disposal and that is labeled with the international biohazard symbol.

(22) "Single-use" means products, instruments or items that are intended for one-time use and are disposed of after each use including, but not limited to, cotton swabs or balls, tissue or paper products, paper or plastic cups, gauze and sanitary coverings, razors, needles, scalpel blades, stencils, ink cups and protective gloves.

(23) "Sterilization" means a process that destroys all forms of microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial spores.

(24) "Sterilizer" means an apparatus that is registered and listed with the FDA for destroying all forms of microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial spores.

(25) "Tattooing" means to pierce or puncture the human skin with a needle or other instrument for the purpose of implanting an indelible mark, or pigment into the skin.

(26) "Universal precautions" is an approach to infection control as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). According to the concept of universal precautions, all human blood and certain body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other bloodborne pathogens.