REHS EXAM BLOODBORNE
PATHOGENS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Decontamination - Answer-The use of physical or chemical means to remove,
inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where the
pathogens are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or
item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
Decontamination and Sterilization Area - Answer-A room, or specific section of a room,
that is set apart and used only to decontaminate and sterilize instruments.
Disinfectant - Answer-A product that is registered by the federal EPA and the
Department of Pesticide Regulation, as indicated on the label, to reduce or eliminate the
presence of disease-causing microorganisms, for use in decontamination work
surfaces.
Hand Washing Facility - Answer-A facility providing an adequate supply of running
potable cold and hot water, soap and single use towels or hot air drying machines
Informed Consent Form - Answer-Client shall read, complete, and sign from prior to
performance of body art that includes the following:
1. description of procedure
2. what to expect following procedure: suggested care, medical complications
3. statement regarding permanent nature of body art
4. notice that tattoo inks, dyes, and pigments are not approved by FDA
5. post-procedure instructions: care of procedure site, restrictions on physical activities
and restriction duration, signs and symptoms of infection, any signs or symptoms that
indicate need to seek medical care
Instrument - Answer-A non-medical application device used in performing body art,
including but not limited to, needles, needle bars, needle tubes, forceps, hemostats,
tweezers, razors, or razor blades.
Jewelry - Answer-Must be made of ASTM F138, ISO 5832-1, and AISI 316L or AISI
316LVM implant grade stainless steel, solid 14K through 18K yellow or white gold,
niobium, ASTM F 136 6A4V titanium, platinum, or other materials found to be equally
bio-compatible shall be placed in newly pierced skin.
Shall be sterilized prior to piercing or shall be purchased pre-sterilized.
Restrictions for Tattoos and Permanent Cosmetics - Answer-Must be minimum 18 years
old to receive a tattoo or permanent cosmetics, regardless of parental consent.
,Restrictions for Body Piercings - Answer-A minor is permitted to receive a piercing in
the presence of his/her guardian.
A body art facility may refuse to perform body piercing on a minor, regardless of
parental/guardian consent.
Restrictions for Branding - Answer-Must be minimum 18 years old to receive a
branding, regardless of parental consent.
Exception for Application of Permanent Cosmetics on Minors - Answer-Piercing or
permanent cosmetics to nipples or genitals- prohibited for minors, *except* for
application of permanent cosmetics to nipples of minor when applied by registered
permanent cosmetic technician, with consent of parent/guardian, and as directed by a
physician.
Medical History Questionnaire - Answer-Client shall receive, complete, and sign
questionnaire that includes:
1. may be pregnant
2. history of herpes at the proposed procedure site, diabetes, allergic reactions to latex
or antibiotics, hemophilia or other bleeding disorder, or cardiac valve disease
3. history of medication use
4. other risk factors for BBP exposure
Permanent Cosmetics - Answer-The application of pigments in human skin tissue for
the purpose of permanently changing the color or other appearance of the skin.
Includes, but is not limited to, permanent eyeliner, eyebrow, or lip color.
PPE - Answer-*Personal protective equipment* is clothing or tools that are designed to
protect from injury or sickness while working.
Examples include aprons, bibs, masks, safety glasses, goggles, and gloves. Properly
worn gloves create an effective barrier between you and your clients.
Piercing Gun - Answer-Mechanical stud and clasp ear piercing device used to force
needle or stud through ear.
Must use disposable, single-use, pre-sterilized stud and clasp that meets jewelry
requirements.
Procedure Area - Answer-A room, or designated portion of a room, that is set apart and
only used to perform body art.
Registration - Answer-A person shall not perform body art if he or she is not registered
with the LEA, and at any location other than a permitted permanent or temporary body
art facility.
, A valid and current registration issued by a LEA shall be valid in any other jurisdiction
for no more than 5 consecutive days, or 15 days total, in any one calendar year.
Sanitization - Answer-Effective bactericidal and virucidal treatment approved by
regulatory authority as being effective in destroying or significantly reducing the number
of pathogens.
Scarification - Answer-The process of cutting skin with a sharp instrument for the
purposes of producing a permanent scar or mark.
Sharps - Answer-Any object that may purposely or purposefully cut or penetrate the skin
or mucus membranes.
Sharps Container - Answer-A puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that can be
closed for handling, storage, transportation, and disposal and that is labeled as a bio-
hazard.
Should be located within arm's reach of the body artist during every body art procedure
and is considered full when the container is three-quarters filled.
Sterilization - Answer-Complete destruction of all living organisms, including spores.
Tattooing - Answer-Insertion of pigment under the surface of the skin by pricking with a
needle or otherwise, to permanently change the color or appearance of the skin.
Workstation - Answer-An area set up to perform body art procedures; a separate room
or area that can be screened
Universal Precautions - Answer-Series of practices and methods of infection control
employees take steps to appropriately avoid all contact with blood and bodily fluids:
hand washing, glove use, PPE, injury prevention, proper handling and disposal of
sharps and blood/bodily fluid contaminated products.
OPIM - Answer-*Other Potentially Infectious Materials* includes other human body
fluids and any possibly infected human body tissue.
Requirements for Infection - Answer-1. sufficient quantity of the pathogen present in a
body fluid
2. a host organism that is susceptible to the infecting pathogen; not all people are
susceptible to every infection
3. an entry point; a pathogen must find a way to bypass barrier of skin (usually through
an opening such as a cut, scratch, or scrape.)
PATHOGENS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Decontamination - Answer-The use of physical or chemical means to remove,
inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where the
pathogens are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or
item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
Decontamination and Sterilization Area - Answer-A room, or specific section of a room,
that is set apart and used only to decontaminate and sterilize instruments.
Disinfectant - Answer-A product that is registered by the federal EPA and the
Department of Pesticide Regulation, as indicated on the label, to reduce or eliminate the
presence of disease-causing microorganisms, for use in decontamination work
surfaces.
Hand Washing Facility - Answer-A facility providing an adequate supply of running
potable cold and hot water, soap and single use towels or hot air drying machines
Informed Consent Form - Answer-Client shall read, complete, and sign from prior to
performance of body art that includes the following:
1. description of procedure
2. what to expect following procedure: suggested care, medical complications
3. statement regarding permanent nature of body art
4. notice that tattoo inks, dyes, and pigments are not approved by FDA
5. post-procedure instructions: care of procedure site, restrictions on physical activities
and restriction duration, signs and symptoms of infection, any signs or symptoms that
indicate need to seek medical care
Instrument - Answer-A non-medical application device used in performing body art,
including but not limited to, needles, needle bars, needle tubes, forceps, hemostats,
tweezers, razors, or razor blades.
Jewelry - Answer-Must be made of ASTM F138, ISO 5832-1, and AISI 316L or AISI
316LVM implant grade stainless steel, solid 14K through 18K yellow or white gold,
niobium, ASTM F 136 6A4V titanium, platinum, or other materials found to be equally
bio-compatible shall be placed in newly pierced skin.
Shall be sterilized prior to piercing or shall be purchased pre-sterilized.
Restrictions for Tattoos and Permanent Cosmetics - Answer-Must be minimum 18 years
old to receive a tattoo or permanent cosmetics, regardless of parental consent.
,Restrictions for Body Piercings - Answer-A minor is permitted to receive a piercing in
the presence of his/her guardian.
A body art facility may refuse to perform body piercing on a minor, regardless of
parental/guardian consent.
Restrictions for Branding - Answer-Must be minimum 18 years old to receive a
branding, regardless of parental consent.
Exception for Application of Permanent Cosmetics on Minors - Answer-Piercing or
permanent cosmetics to nipples or genitals- prohibited for minors, *except* for
application of permanent cosmetics to nipples of minor when applied by registered
permanent cosmetic technician, with consent of parent/guardian, and as directed by a
physician.
Medical History Questionnaire - Answer-Client shall receive, complete, and sign
questionnaire that includes:
1. may be pregnant
2. history of herpes at the proposed procedure site, diabetes, allergic reactions to latex
or antibiotics, hemophilia or other bleeding disorder, or cardiac valve disease
3. history of medication use
4. other risk factors for BBP exposure
Permanent Cosmetics - Answer-The application of pigments in human skin tissue for
the purpose of permanently changing the color or other appearance of the skin.
Includes, but is not limited to, permanent eyeliner, eyebrow, or lip color.
PPE - Answer-*Personal protective equipment* is clothing or tools that are designed to
protect from injury or sickness while working.
Examples include aprons, bibs, masks, safety glasses, goggles, and gloves. Properly
worn gloves create an effective barrier between you and your clients.
Piercing Gun - Answer-Mechanical stud and clasp ear piercing device used to force
needle or stud through ear.
Must use disposable, single-use, pre-sterilized stud and clasp that meets jewelry
requirements.
Procedure Area - Answer-A room, or designated portion of a room, that is set apart and
only used to perform body art.
Registration - Answer-A person shall not perform body art if he or she is not registered
with the LEA, and at any location other than a permitted permanent or temporary body
art facility.
, A valid and current registration issued by a LEA shall be valid in any other jurisdiction
for no more than 5 consecutive days, or 15 days total, in any one calendar year.
Sanitization - Answer-Effective bactericidal and virucidal treatment approved by
regulatory authority as being effective in destroying or significantly reducing the number
of pathogens.
Scarification - Answer-The process of cutting skin with a sharp instrument for the
purposes of producing a permanent scar or mark.
Sharps - Answer-Any object that may purposely or purposefully cut or penetrate the skin
or mucus membranes.
Sharps Container - Answer-A puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that can be
closed for handling, storage, transportation, and disposal and that is labeled as a bio-
hazard.
Should be located within arm's reach of the body artist during every body art procedure
and is considered full when the container is three-quarters filled.
Sterilization - Answer-Complete destruction of all living organisms, including spores.
Tattooing - Answer-Insertion of pigment under the surface of the skin by pricking with a
needle or otherwise, to permanently change the color or appearance of the skin.
Workstation - Answer-An area set up to perform body art procedures; a separate room
or area that can be screened
Universal Precautions - Answer-Series of practices and methods of infection control
employees take steps to appropriately avoid all contact with blood and bodily fluids:
hand washing, glove use, PPE, injury prevention, proper handling and disposal of
sharps and blood/bodily fluid contaminated products.
OPIM - Answer-*Other Potentially Infectious Materials* includes other human body
fluids and any possibly infected human body tissue.
Requirements for Infection - Answer-1. sufficient quantity of the pathogen present in a
body fluid
2. a host organism that is susceptible to the infecting pathogen; not all people are
susceptible to every infection
3. an entry point; a pathogen must find a way to bypass barrier of skin (usually through
an opening such as a cut, scratch, or scrape.)
