NILES — A Niles tattoo and piercing shop has had its license suspended following an investigation from health department officials.

The Berrien County Health Department identified unsafe and unsanitary piercing practices at Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing, 111 N. Fourth St., Niles, that may have exposed former customers to the blood of other customers. The Berrien County Health Department suspended the operating license for Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing on Feb. 26, and the suspension will remain in place until the facility can come into compliance with state code.

As a precaution, the health department is urging customers who have ever received body piercings of their navel, tongue, nipples, genitals, or other surface or dermal piercings at Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing through February are recommended to receive blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Individuals who received these types of piercings may be at increased risk for possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens due to improper sterilization of metal forceps used for those piercing procedures, according to health department officials. Customers who received ear and nose piercings exclusively are not at risk and are not recommended for blood testing. The health department also determined there was not a risk for those who only received tattoos at the facility, as sterile, single-use tattoo needles were being used properly.

The Berrien County Health Department is working to notify individuals with records of having received the piercings in question to provide bloodborne pathogen testing recommendations and guidance. Individuals seeking testing are encouraged to visit their healthcare provider, but are also able to get tested at the Berrien County Health Department offices in Niles on Tuesdays and Thursdays or Benton Harbor on Mondays or Thursdays if they do not have a primary care provider, officials said.

According to health officer Nicki Britten, the health department investigated the piercing facility after receiving a complaint from someone who questioned the sanitation practices at the shop. During the investigation, health officers determined that procedures for sterilizing metal forceps did not meet state standards.

“It created a risk, a small risk, but a risk for blood cross-contamination,” Britten said.

While investigations are ongoing, to date, the Berrien County Health Department has not identified any cases of hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV that are associated with practices or procedures at Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing.

As Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing has only kept records going back 14 months, Britten said the health department is unable to know the number of people potentially affected.

People infected with viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV may not have symptoms for many years, according to the health department. Even though there may not be symptoms, blood testing is still recommended, as there are treatment options available if test results are positive for infection, Britten said. Testing cannot determine where the contamination occurred — whether at a body art facility or another location — but knowing about the infection is important so it can be evaluated by a health care professional, health department officials added.

The health department continues to work in collaboration with state and regional public health partners as this investigation is ongoing. A hotline has been established to answer questions or concerns from the public at 1(800) 815-5485. More information is also available at the Berrien County Health Department website, bchdmi.org.

A representative for Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing could not be reached as of publishing.