Clients of Huai Kui Xu TCM Clinic advised to get tested for hepatitis and HIV
Newmarket – York Region is advising clients who received wet cupping or micro-needling/derma rolling services at Huai Kui Xu TCM Clinic from October 1, 2015, to June 7, 2023, to get tested for blood-borne infections as a precaution.
On June 7, 2023, The Regional Municipality of York inspected the clinic at 150 Berwick Crescent in the City of Richmond Hill after being made aware of health concerns. The investigation found the devices used for wet cupping were not properly cleaned and sterilized between clinic clients and single-use micro-needle/derma rollers were reused on multiple clients.
While the risk to clients who received wet cupping and/or micro-needling/derma rolling services is considered low, clients may have been exposed to blood-borne infections. As a precaution, clients who received one or more of these services at this clinic should seek medical follow-up and be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by their family doctor, nurse practitioner or at a walk-in clinic.
Clients can view frequently asked questions on york.ca and print a copy of the health care professional letter, lab requisition and instruction form to bring to their family doctor, nurse practitioner or walk-in clinic for testing.
Immediately upon identification of inadequate infection prevention and control practices, York Region Public Health issued a Section 13 order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to stop the clinic operator from performing services of concern.
Following the order, York Region completed a thorough investigation that included multiple site visits, a risk assessment, a literature review and consultations with Public Health Ontario and field experts. For the health and safety of residents, York Region issued this public notification once the investigation was complete as the clinic had inadequate client documentation practices and we are not able to follow-up with clients directly.
York Region Public Health currently permits the operator to only provide assessments and provision of Chinese herbal medicine and continues to work with the operator to ensure infection prevention and control practices are followed. The clinic will be reinspected to ensure all the conditions in the order have been met and services may resume once the operator has gained full compliance.
York Region routinely inspects restaurants, pools, whirlpools, wading pools, splash pads, small drinking water systems, child care centres, before and after-school programs, recreational camps and personal service settings as per the Ontario Public Health Standards.
Regulated health professionals are regulated by their respective colleges and must follow infection prevention and control best practices as outlined by their regulatory colleges. York Region Public Health inspects regulated health professionals upon referral or complaints where there are concerns with infection prevention and control practices.
If anyone has a concern about the infection prevention and control practices at a premise such as a clinic providing medical or complementary and alternative medicine services, report it to York Region Public Health by contacting Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email @email
For more information on preventing infections, please visit york.ca/health
The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to more than 1.2 million residents and 55,600 businesses with more than 615,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices
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Media Contact:
Caitlin Gladney-Hatcher, Community and Health Services, The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 74966, Email: @email
After Hours: 905-806-1216, @email
