Health officials in Alberta have urged people who received injections, aesthetic procedures or other medical services from a home-based business in Edmonton to get checked for possible exposure to HIV and hepatitis B and C. The warning was issued on August 21 after authorities said an individual, identified as Max Klein, had allegedly been providing medical and aesthetic services from a home-based, unlicensed business. According to reports, Klein has not held an active medical practice permit in Alberta since 2015, and his registration was cancelled in 2022. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta had previously taken action against him following a 2015 incident involving the administration of an illicit substance to a colleague without consent, according to reporting on the health alert. Officials have asked anyone who received services from the business to contact Health Link at 811 or a healthcare provider to know if testing, monitoring or follow-up treatment is required. People Who Received Injections May Need Blood Tests The alert is meant for people who received a range of services, including injections, aesthetic procedures, medical treatment, and other health services from Klein. It said these individuals “may have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV” and could also face risks of injury or other health complications. People referred through Health Link will receive a Blood and Body Fluid Exposure assessment through Primary Care Alberta. Depending on the circumstances and timing of exposure, healthcare professionals can determine whether testing or post-exposure treatment is appropriate. Alberta health authorities said that, “Procedures involving injections, needles, or skin penetration should only be performed by a qualified provider who follows appropriate infection prevention and control practices.” The province warned that receiving such services from “unqualified or unregulated individuals” can increase the risk of infectious disease exposure, injury and other adverse health outcomes.Also read: From Liver Inflammation to Cancer: When Hepatitis Becomes a Serious Warning Sign Why Can Unsafe Injections Spread HIV And Hepatitis? Injections and other procedures involving needles can carry a risk of transmitting blood-borne infections if proper infection-control practices are not followed. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV can all be transmitted through exposure to infected blood. The risk can arise through contaminated needles or other equipment, particularly when sterile equipment is not used correctly or instruments are reused. The World Medical Association notes that unsafe injection practices, including unsterilised equipment and reuse of syringes, can spread hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.Also read: England Set To Become One Of The First Countries To Eliminate Hepatitis C; Here's How HIV And Hepatitis May Not Cause Immediate Symptoms One reason why testing is important after a potential exposure is that blood-borne infections may not always cause noticeable symptoms soon after infection. Hepatitis B and C can sometimes cause fatigue, nausea, abdominal discomfort, or jaundice, but some people have no symptoms. HIV can also cause no obvious symptoms during certain stages. Therefore, feeling well after receiving an injection does not necessarily establish that there was no exposure. Healthcare professionals can determine which tests are appropriate based on the type of procedure, exposure, and how long ago it occurred.