tattooing people with HIV+

i was watching some show on tv last night, about how young people are dealing with HIV. i noticed a couple of them getting tattoos to commemorate their struggles and what not. i was wondering what other tattoo artists' views of tattoing someone who was HIV+....this is considering someone is honest enough to divulge this info. just curious. thanks.

As professional tattoo artists we have to consider that all of our clients have the potential for bearing infectious disease and take the same precautions with everyone!

thanks taz for replying. much respect.

HIV is actually one of the lesser worries of a tattooist Hep and others are far more likely to be transfered. HIV doesn't survive very well in open air and isn't an airborne pathogen.

And on a similar topic, how about tattooists with HIV? Do you all get tested often? I don't think it would matter to me if an artist - taking all the customary precautions - had HIV, but are there any laws, guidelines, traditions, rules of thumb?

a tattoo artist friend of mine gets tested regularly for hepatitis. I'm not sure about HIV.