D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-3719
In addition to the equipment required in §§ 3718.7 through 3718.9, each Electrology salon shall contain an office that provides the following:
A home office must comply with all local zoning laws. A copy of an approved home occupancy permit shall be submitted to the Board thirty (30) days before opening.
A valid license or Board-certified duplicate license shall be displayed at all times.
Electrologists shall notify the Board of their business address by certified mail thirty (30) days before opening an office or branch office.
Electrologists shall notify the Board in writing of any change of business address within thirty (30) days.
Board members or their agents or designees may inspect any licensee's shop or salon upon reasonable notice.
Electrologists shall use only Board-approved modalities which are:
Electronic tweezer or non-needle methods are prohibited within the practice of electrology.
Epilators shall be approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and conform to Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.
Epilators shall be maintained in proper working condition.
Optimum timing and intensity during treatment shall be used to affect proper epilation of hair and to avoid tweezing.
A professional lamp and magnification shall be used to view the treatment area.
A professional treatment table or chair shall be used to administer treatments.
A clean head towel or drape sheet shall be used for each patron.
Sanitary disposable paper drapes or washable tabletops or chairs that must be sanitized shall be used on the treatment table or chair for each patron. Paper drapes shall be stored in a closed cabinet. Soiled disposable items shall be discarded into a container lined with a securely fastened plastic bag and removed daily.
Each treatment room shall have a covered trash container.
Smoking is prohibited in the treatment room.
A clean lab coat or uniform is acceptable professional attire.
The electrologist shall explain the following to the patient before treatment:
The service provider is required to maintain an individual case history card for each patron. A complete past and current health history shall be obtained from each patron before treatment.
Electrologists shall wash both hands using soap, warm water, and good mechanical action immediately before and after treating each patron.
A fresh pair of nonsterile, disposable examination gloves shall be worn during the treatment of each patron and while cleaning instruments.
Electrologists shall wash both hands before putting on gloves.
If a needle pricks the glove of an electrologist, the electrologist shall remove and discard gloves, wash and dry hands, and then use a fresh pair of gloves.
A sterile needle and sterile forceps shall be used for each patient. Needles shall not be re-used and shall be disposable.
Sterile forceps or other sterile instruments shall be used for each patient to release ingrown hairs.
Treatment solutions shall be labeled as to contents and covered when not in use.
Skin areas to be treated shall first be cleansed thoroughly with seventy percent (70%) isopropyl alcohol or antiseptic lotion.
Mucous membranes and the external auditory canal of the ear may not be treated without the written approval of a licensed physician.
An electrologist shall not treat a person infected with any contagious skin disease or on a skin malignancy.
One of the following applications shall be applied to the tissue after treatment:
Ice, healing cream, or lotion may be used at the electrologist's discretion.
Specific, written home care instructions shall be given to each patron following the first treatment and as needed.
Disposable or damaged instruments shall be placed in a sharps container which is impervious to puncture. The instruments shall be disinfected with a freshly prepared 1:10 solution of household bleach and water consisting of one (1) part bleach and ten (10) parts water, and allowed to stand for at least thirty (30) minutes. The solution shall then be poured off, and the container securely sealed and disposed of in compliance with local laws.
Tips of epilator probe holders shall be wiped with a detergent germicide after each treatment.
Epilator probe cords which have been in direct contact with a patron or practitioner shall be wiped with a detergent germicide after each treatment.
The treatment lamp shall be wiped with a detergent germicide after each treatment.
After each use, patron eyeshields shall be cleaned with soap or detergent and water, then rinsed and dried.
A hospital-grade disinfectant-detergent registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall be used for cleaning environmental surfaces.
Each electrologist's office and every institution teaching the clinical practice of electrology shall contain sterilization equipment adequate in size to accommodate forceps and soaking receptacles. Needles shall not be re-used.
Needles or probes shall be pre-sterilized and disposable for single use.
Transfer forceps and holding containers shall be kept clean and sterilized
Unused instruments in open containers shall be reprocessed after a twenty-four (24) hour period.
Forceps and the soaking receptacle shall be rinsed, dried thoroughly, and placed on a steel tray or rack in the center of an autoclave or heat sterilizer, separating instruments and keeping them away from walls of the unit.
One recommended method of sterilization is Moist Heat (Steam Under Pressure) autoclave.
Another approved method of sterilization is with a Dry Heat Oven.
Sterile needles and forceps shall be stored in sterile covered containers until used.
Forceps dropped on the floor or otherwise contaminated may not be used until sterilized. Needles dropped on the floor or contaminated shall be properly disposed of and replaced.
Dry heat oven and autoclaves shall be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and shall be cleaned, used, and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 7699 (September 12, 2003).
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-3719