Blood Test.....?

Question

A Question for our American friends, maybe...... When getting married in the U.S.of A.. do the couple still have to have blood test... if so...why.?

Answer 1

Every state is different so it depends on where you are living, I know that in Pennsylvania you do not need a blood test. try this website to see if you need to be tested: http://www.1800bride2b.com/articles/marriagelaws_chart.htm
If you do a search for premarital blood testing most sites say it is done to check for STD's.

Answer 2

Not in all states. Each state has different rules about age, blood test, days since divorce, residency, etc. The best thing to do is to contact the county clerk or justice of the peace of the area that you want to get married. They will have the specifics.
In Texas there is not a required Blood test, but there is a three day waiting period after applying for the license.

Answer 3

The blood test was to make sure you did not have any communicable diseases. If you did you needed to be treated and cured before you could be married.

Many states no longer require one but a good check up before marriage is still a good idea.

It may have been dropped because so many people just live together , and they would already have spread any diseases they have , so its a waste of time.

Answer 4

Here's some info, there's more to read if you want to check out the source:

"In fact, in most locations, the standard premarital blood tests check for evidence of syphilis (now or in the past) and rubella (German measles). Screening for other diseases in future newlyweds has in some cases included tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and HIV; of these, only HIV can be detected by blood tests. Only two states have passed legislation requiring HIV testing before marriage, but those laws did not last long at least in part because of very low detection rates.

The Policy Behind Testing

The reason for syphilis testing is that detecting this disease before people marry may allow the infected person to be treated before the partner becomes infected. In addition, detecting and treating syphilis in the woman can prevent transmission of the disease and its complications to her fetus in the event of future pregnancy."

Answer 5

Its a dying trend, not many states do it anymore. I think it was at first to make sure you werent marrying into your own family, and then it became are your blood types compatible (RH factor mainly).
I actually think it should be brought back just for the peace of mind that people arent marrying other people with a disease like HIV or some other STD.

Answer 6

Yes they do. For a number of reasons, one being sexually transmitted diseases. The other being differening blood types. If a man is positive and the woman is negative and they have a child with positive blood it could cause major complications at birth. This way the couple can know for certain and be prepared should they get pregnant.

Answer 7

It used to be that way for all the states and it was for genetic disorders, to insure they were not related, and for disease control, and for RH factor. RH factor is probably the only really important one now as that can affect childrearing. You don't have to get a blood test anymore though in the US. You can but you don't have to.

Answer 8

You no longer need blood tests in USA.

Answer 9

I might vary by state, but I know in CA there is no blood test.

Answer 10

yes...they do. It's just to know if they share the same blood type or are related. That way , they will be informed that if they have children they might be born with birth defects. The state wont stop them from getting married, its just a precaution.