# Pre-Marital Blood-test. What are they testing for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218 "2003-05-24T12:51:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/1 "2003-05-24T12:51:39Z")

</div>

I am getting married in 6 months, I know we have to get a blood test, but what exactly will we be getting tested for??

I understand having a blood test when planning a to get pregnant but before marriage?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/2 "2003-05-24T13:17:43Z")

</div>

Rh factor. If the woman is negative and the man positive it can present some serious problems. Of course, there are many other things which can be found with a blood test like communicable diseases.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/3 "2003-05-24T13:38:36Z")

</div>

Many moons ago, while in the service, I was stationed in New Mexico. I was getting married and had my blood test done at the base hospital. I asked the lab tech who drew my blood what they were testing for. He told me the test was for syphlis.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/4 "2003-05-24T14:02:31Z")

</div>

What they’re testing for varies from state to state, but it includes several [diseases and other conditions.](http://family-law.freeadvice.com/bloodtestmarriage.htm) It appears that [many states](http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/586AC0B4-0435-4D7C-BD06608979A6CBF9/catID/697DBAFE-20FF-467A-9E9395985EE7E825) have eliminated the requirement for a blood test entirely.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/5 "2003-05-24T14:08:09Z")

</div>

**Cecil Adams** on [What is the purpose of premarital blood testing?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_193.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-marital-blood-test-what-are-they-testing-for/177218/6 "2003-05-24T14:28:40Z")

</div>

Excellent! Thank you all.