what is Sterile

It drives me crazy when I hear artists talking about their sterile field or sterile work station. I spent 20 years as a combat Medic and a paramedic before I did my apprenticeship ten years ago. your workstation or work area is NOT STERILE. I understand why most artists think they are but they are not. To have a Sterile Field the area and everything in it must be sterile. Surgery Techs go to school for years to learn how to create a sterile environment. a few reasons why you are not sterile You must have an aseptic room that is completely separated with HEPA filters, your clothing, hair, hands must be completely covered with sterile gown, cover and gloves. The gloves we use to tattoo are clean not sterile. Your drapes that you cover your work area and the client would have to be completely covered. just because your needles and grips are sterilized, and you are wearing gloves, and your work area has been disinfected. you still are not even close to having a sterile field. Not to mention the Technique, ink caps and everything else that you use not being sterile. there are a lot of other reason that I have not even touched on but these are just a few. As artists we make our area as clean as we can to minimize the chance of infection as much as we can. please don't confuse that as being sterile