I have a tattoo. When I got it, I saw the needle came from a sterilized package. Is it possible to contract hepatitis from the ink bottle that has been used on someone else infected by hepatitis?

Sky

Certain types of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B and C, can be transmitted through needles contaminated with infected blood. Until recently, many tattoo parlors would commonly reuse needles, and cases of both AIDS and hepatitis have been traced to such exposures. Since education has increased, it is uncommon to find a tattoo parlor (at least a reputable one) that does not use sterile needles for each customer.

I have not heard of anyone acquiring hepatitis from the ink used to make the tattoo. Certainly, if the same ink bottle is used for more than one patient, and needles are placed into the bottle more than once, there must be at least a theoretical chance of acquiring the infection in this manner. However, the chances are likely very low, because this is a much less efficient way of transmitting the hepatitis virus than being directly stuck with a needle contaminated with infected blood.

One way to address your concerns would be to provide unopened bottles of ink in addition to a sterile needle for each patient. Another possibility, obviously the safest one, is to avoid tattooing altogether.