Ireland has no specific legislation for tattoo studio sterilisation — but the European standard I.S. EN 17169:2020 (adopted by NSAI) provides a comprehensive best-practice framework. This guide details every step, from receiving instruments to archiving records, for studios that want to operate at the highest professional standard and be ready when regulation arrives.
At the end of each session, reusable instruments (tubes, grips, forceps) are immediately placed in a pre-disinfection tray. Single-use instruments (needles, tips, ink cups) are disposed of in the clinical waste container. Never mix the two categories.
After pre-disinfection (duration depends on the product), instruments are rinsed, dried, and placed in sterilisation pouches. Each pouch is sealed and marked with a process indicator (autoclave tape). The pouch is dated and numbered.
The pouches are loaded into the autoclave. The recommended cycle is 134°C for 18 minutes (prion cycle). The autoclave prints a report (ticket or file) at the end of the cycle. This report is the proof that the required parameters were reached.
Before the first load of the day, run a Bowie-Dick or Helix test to verify steam penetration.
After the cycle, each pouch receives a traceability label showing: the cycle number, the sterilisation date, the use-by date (typically 2 months for a single-layer pouch), and the identification of the contents.
With traceability software, the label can include a QR code linking the pouch directly to the autoclave cycle report.
Sterilised pouches are stored in a clean, dry, enclosed space away from dust. The first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle applies: the oldest pouches are used first.
Each cycle is recorded in the sterilisation register with: date, time, cycle number, parameters (temperature, pressure, duration), result (pass/fail), and operator identity. The autoclave report is retained (in paper or digital format).
Ireland has no specific law requiring tattoo studios to maintain a sterilisation register. However, the European standard I.S. EN 17169:2020 ('Tattooing — Safe and hygienic practice'), adopted by NSAI, recommends full documentation of the sterilisation process. These records are your proof of professional standards.
A 2018 Bill proposing regulation of tattooing and piercing passed first stage in the Dáil but lapsed without being enacted. HSE draft guidelines announced in 2015 remain unpublished as of 2026. In the absence of legislation, studios that follow EN 17169:2020 and maintain documented sterilisation records are operating at the highest professional standard — and will be ready when regulation arrives.
Not filling in the record immediately after the cycle (forgetting). Not marking the use-by date on the pouch. Storing pouches in an open or humidity-exposed drawer. Not performing the daily Bowie-Dick test. Not keeping autoclave reports. Using a pouch past its use-by date without reprocessing.
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