HB 188

Summary Present law requires a physician, surgeon, or other person permitted by law to attend a pregnant woman d uring pregnancy to take or cause to be taken a blood sample to test for rubella immunity, hepatitis B surface antigen, and syphilis infection during certain stages of pregnancy and report any positive results to the local health department. However, the t est for syphilis must only be performed at the first examination, although high-risk patients may be tested again for hepatitis B or syphilis infection in the 28 th week of gestation. This bill requires a pregnant woman , during each pregnancy , to be teste d for syphilis infection at (i) the first examination , (ii) after the 27 th week but before the 33 rd week of gestation, and (iii) at the t ime of delivery. Each blood sample must be sent to a laboratory approved by the department of health for testing for s yphilis infection. A positive test for syphilis must be reported to the local health department, and regulations governing the control of communicable diseases in this state.