Questions and answers re: Galleria Nails, Spa and Eyelashes in Carleton Place

While the risk of blood-borne infection is assessed to be low, Southeast Public Health recommends individuals who have received manicure, pedicure or waxing services between July 4, 2023 and August 12, 2026 consult a health-care provider to discuss their personal risk and, if deemed appropriate, be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Testing is free for residents with an Ontario health card (OHIP). If you are not an Ontario resident or do not have an OHIP number, contact Southeast Public Health at 1-800-660-5853, extension 2222.

Yes. Your personal health information is confidential and shared only between you and your health-care provider.

If your provider recommends testing and you agree, Southeast Public Health may receive a copy of your negative test result. This helps Southeast Public Health understand how many people have been tested and the overall results. If you prefer that Southeast Public Health does not receive your negative result, please let your health-care provider know.

Positive test results for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV are required by law to be reported to your local public health unit under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). Southeast Public Health will not share your results with anyone without your permission.

Because it can take time for infection to be detected in blood tests, you may need to be tested more than once to rule out infection. Contact a health-care provider for further information.

A positive blood test indicates that you have been exposed to the virus that causes hepatitis B, hepatitis C and/or HIV. It does not tell you where, when or how you became infected. If your test result is positive, your health-care provider and Southeast Public Health will contact you and will provide more information. There are highly effective treatments available for the management of these infections.

No, not at this time. If you test positive for an infection, Southeast Public Health will contact you with next steps.

Manicures, pedicures, and waxing services are generally not intended to break the skin or cause bleeding. However, in some cases, tools such as blades, nippers, or files — used for procedures like callus removal, cuticle care, or nail trimming — can accidentally cause small cuts. These breaks in the skin may increase the risk of bacterial infections and, in rare cases, blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Services vary in their level of risk. For example, nail polish application poses minimal risk, while procedures involving sharp tools carry a higher potential for infection if proper cleaning and disinfection practices are not followed.

Southeast Public Health conducts a risk assessment based on information provided by the operator and observations made during the inspection. In this case, several practices were found that did not meet public health standards, including reuse of single-use tools and inadequate cleaning and disinfection of instruments.

Based on the findings, Southeast Public Health determined that notifying the public was appropriate to ensure individuals are aware of the potential risk of exposure and can take steps to protect their health.

Yes, Southeast Public Health inspects all personal services settings, including but not limited to nail salons, piercing and tattoo establishments at a minimum of once per year.

Yes. Southeast Public Health has worked closely with the operator of Galleria Nails, Spa and Eyelashes to provide education and ensure that all required infection prevention and control practices are now in place. The operator has made the necessary improvements and is currently permitted to continue offering services safely.

Southeast Public Health conducts inspections of personal service settings a minimum of once per year. During a complaint inspection in August 2026, the public health inspector noted that the business was not completing proper cleaning and disinfection. Southeast Public Health has worked closely with the business to ensure they meet the required infection prevention and control standards necessary to operate safely.

Manicures, pedicures and waxing services are not intended to break the skin or cause bleeding. However, in some cases, tools used during these services — such as blades, nippers, or files — may accidentally cause small cuts. These breaks in the skin can increase the risk of infection. At this time, no blood-borne infection has been linked to this location. Although the overall risk is low, Southeast Public Health is recommending testing for any individual who received manicure, pedicure or waxing services between July 4, 2023 and August 12, 2026 out of an abundance of caution.

Southeast Public Health conducts inspections of personal service settings a minimum of once per year, however we have undergone a recent transition in our online reporting which allows us to publicly share inspection reports from across the entire Southeast Public Health region. As a result of this transition, reports that were available on our previous platforms are no longer available on our website, however members of the public can request copies of these inspection reports by contacting Southeast Public Health at 1-800-660-5853, extension 2222.