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SPA USED TO BE, AND NOW IT’S CLOSED, BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IF YOU CAME HERE BETWEEN MAY OR SEPTEMBER 2018 FOR AN INJECTION-RELATED PROCEDURE, YOU SHOULD GET TESTED ASAP -- AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT’S A SITUATION THAT NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN. >> THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR WHOLE LIFE. ONE SIMPLE DECISION AND IT CHANGES EVERYTHING. SO, IT IS SCARY. MARISSA: ON MONDAY, THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ANNOUNCING THEY ARE INVESTIGATING TWO CASES OF HIV INFECTION AMONG CLIENTS WHO GOT A VAMPIRE FACIAL AT THE VIP SPA IN ALBUQUERQUE. >> THIS IS WRONG. FOR PEOPLE TO TRY TO ALTER THEIR FACE AND THEN FOR THE CLINIC TO DO THAT, THAT’S BAD. MARISSA: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CLOSED DOWN THE VIP SPA IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AFTER THEY IDENTIFIED PRACTICES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INFECTIONS, NOT JUST OF HIV, BUT HEPITITIS B AND C. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY BOTH CLIENTS WERE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS THROUGH INJECTION-RELATED PROCEDURES AT THE FACILITY. >> WHY WOULD ANYBODY TRUST SOME RANDOM SPA PERSON TO DRAW BLOOD FROM THEIR FACE? IT WAS HORRIFYING. MARISSA: DOCTOR DEAN BAIR, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT ANOTHER SPA, SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOING TO A MEDICAL FACILITY TO GET A VAMPIRE FACIAL. >> CHECK THE CERTIFICATION, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE USING PROPER TECHNIQUE. MARISSA: BAIR SAYS CLIENTS SHOULD MAKE SURE THE FACILITY PROPERLY DISPOSES BLOOD AND CONTAMINATED SUPPLIES. >> I THINK IT’S ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS OCCURING. THIS IS JUST THE WORST EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN GO WRONG IF YOU DON’ MARISS HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THAT AT LEAST 100 CLIENTS HAVE BEEN TESTE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE COME TO THIS SPOT FOR A VAMPIRE FACIAL, YOU SHOULD GO TO ONE OF THOSE FREE LOCATI

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The New Mexico Department of Health is urging customers of a now-closed Albuquerque spa to take advantage of free HIV testing after two cases of the virus were found among clients who received injection-related procedures."It could affect your whole life, one simple decision, and it changes everything, so it is scary," said Kassie Baca. According to a release, the Department of Health is investigating two cases of HIV infection among VIP Spa clients who received a “vampire facial” between May and September 2018. "This is wrong, for people to try to alter their face and then for the clinic to do that. That's bad," said Wendy Guzman. The VIP Spa closed in September 2018 after an inspection found practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, to clients. "Why would anybody trust some random spa person to draw blood from their face? It is horrifying," said Mary Clark. Additional laboratory testing on specimens from the two clients indicates recent infection with the same HIV virus, increasing the likelihood that the two HIV infections may have resulted from a procedure at the VIP spa. Dr. Dean Bair, the medical director at Bair Medical Spa, said people should always make sure they are going to a licensed medical facility to get a vampire facial. "Check the certification. Make sure they are using proper technique," Bair said. "Watch how people handle the blood. If it looks like it's shaky, it's probably shaky."Bair said clients should make sure the facility properly disposes of the blood and contaminated supplies.Right now, former clients can get free testing at the South Valley Health Commons, located at 2001 El Centro Familiar SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 on Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed from 12-1:00 pm); and Casa de Salud Family Medical Office located at 1608 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 on Thursdays from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. What is a vampire facial?In a vampire facial, a small amount of a client's blood is drawn and then spun to extract its plasma. That plasma is then injected into the face with a needle.The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department said the owner of VIP Spa did not have a licensed professional to draw blood.Only a medical professional can do that."I think it's absolutely paramount to make sure that that is occurring. This is just the worst example of what can go wrong if you don't," Bair said.