Clients of Sydney’s Detoxologie clinic at Eastgate shopping centre are being urged to get tested for HIV and other blood-borne diseases after the clinic was shut down in December for poor hygiene issues.
New South Wales Health has warned anyone who received a number of different procedures between June 2013 and December 2020 (a seven-year period) to get tested immediately.
Anyone who received skin penetration procedures during the seven-year period is urged to be tested for HIV and Hepatitis B and C as soon as possible, even if they are not presenting symptoms. According to NSW Health, procedures of concern include:
- colonic irrigation
- intravenous (IV) infusion or vitamin injections (such as vitamin B12 or any injections)
- facial micro-needling (also called collagen induction therapy or skin needling)
- allergy testing (such as a blood testing for food allergies, live blood analysis or any test involving a pinprick or blood test)
Unfortunately, NSW Health is unable to make direct contact with those who may be at risk due to poor record-keeping at the Eastgate clinic.
The risk to individual customers of the clinic is believed to be low, but NSW Health is urging those people who may be at risk to come forward for testing out of an abundance of caution.
“To date, there have been no cases of blood-borne virus infection linked to this business,” Director of Public Health for the South East Sydney local health district Professor Mark Ferguson said, according to the ABC.
“However, we know infections like HIV and hepatitis B and C can be silent for many years.
“A positive test for a blood-borne virus does not necessarily mean you were infected at this business, but if you have been, it’s important to be aware to ensure you receive treatment and you don’t pass it on to others.”
The clinic is currently located in the Eastgate Shopping Centre but was previously located on Oxford Street.
Detoxologie was shut down in December due to poor hygiene and lack of sterilisation, as well as the employment of an unregistered nurse who allegedly prescribed and administered medication illegally.
