In America why are blood tests needed before you get married.?

Question

I have seen a few times in American films people who are in a hurry to get married rushing round to get blood tests done. Why.

Answer 1

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center


Why the "Marriage Blood Test"?
The Policy Behind Testing
Abandoning the Test
The Bottom Line
As if finding the perfect mate and planning the perfect wedding were not hard enough, some people discover only days before their wedding that they must have a blood test before a marriage license will be issued. Then again, a blood test may be unnecessary. It depends where you live, and, in some states, whether you are a man or a woman. The laws vary from state to state, and in recent years more and more states have dropped the requirement altogether. Is this a good idea? Can your marriage be delayed by the results of these tests? What are the tests for, anyway? Read on to learn about the myths and facts behind premarital blood testing.

Why the “Marriage Blood Test”?

Some people believe that the premarital blood test is to check blood types to be sure you and your future spouse are biologically compatible. (So far, there is no test to determine whether you are otherwise compatible!) While checking the blood type may be helpful in the event of pregnancy — and it is routinely checked then in case a transfusion is needed and to check the Rh type — it is not part of the routine premarital blood test. It is perfectly safe and acceptable for a person of one blood type to marry another with the same or a different blood type. Another myth is that the required blood testing is to make sure you and your betrothed are not related.

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.

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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. In this way, transmission through the population could be reduced or even eliminated (though, of course, this assumed that sexual activity was occurring primarily among married people). When these programs began in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States, syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases were reportedly very common, especially in big cities. There was considerable fear that syphilis could spread throughout the population — that is, it was truly a public health concern. The discovery of a blood test that could identify past or current exposure to syphilis led to widespread screening programs targeting those about to marry. If evidence of infection was discovered, treatment could be required before the couple could marry.

Although rubella is typically a minor condition in adults, it is serious disease for a developing fetus, especially during the first trimester. It is associated with a high rate of birth defects. Identifying women who are not immune (from previous infection or vaccination) can determine who needs vaccination before pregnancy, a practice that could reduce the chances that a fetus will be affected. If a woman is not immune and has not been vaccinated prior to pregnancy, she will be instructed to avoid anyone who might have the disease. For these reasons, screening women for immunity to rubella before marriage might seem to make sense.

Answer 2

We did not have a blood test before we got married! I think there are still a few states that do this. I have NO idea why.

They did ask us if we had any STD's - which I thought was strange. We got a good laugh out of it. The only thing I could think of was that they wanted us to disclose it to our partners..... as if we hadn't had that discussion already!!! Kind of a strange question to get in the middle of the county hall!

Answer 3

you would possibly want to be extra useful off having your fiance keep on with now for a K1 fiance visa which will take 6-9 months to procedure. in case you marry contained in the U. S. on a vacationer visa, go back homestead then record a CR1 significant different visa, that is going to take 12-18 months to procedure, meaning you'd be separated out of your significant different for a minimum of a year when you marry With a fiance visa you don't desire to leave the country when you marry - you merely record an adjustment of status when you're married. that is swifter and motives fewer complications

Answer 4

I am not sure where this comes from. Perhaps they used to do this a long time ago or perhaps it may depend what state you are in. I live in Texas and no blood test is required to get married.

Answer 5

I got married in America and we didn't need a blood test. Either you don't need it everywhere or that is a thing of the past, or just a movie thing.

Answer 6

I think maybe it's just in the movie...I've never known on anyone having to get a blood test done first O.o

Answer 7

To make sure you are not closely related blood relatives to avoid birth defects . This is as I was told 30 years ago when getting tested in ohio , it is no longer required now.

Answer 8

It used to be more popular here than it is now. I got married in Spet and my husband and I did not have to have any bloodwork done. Basicallt I think it was done so people didn't get into marriage without knowing everything about their partner. Now due to HIPPA laws it is not done.

Answer 9

It wont stop you from getting married. Its just to make sure they dont have HIV or a sickness that can be passed to each other or to see if they can have a child.

Answer 10

I wonder what they were testing for, because really you watch older movies and that happens in them too, long before genetic screening. Maybe they are checking for STDs?