# Why My State (Indiana) Requires Pre-marital Blood Testing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 24, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634 "2003-01-24T16:55:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634/1 "2003-01-24T16:55:18Z")

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In Cecil’s column from 19-April-1996, he gave all sorts of facts and figures regarding STDs. In Indiana, it’s different. All they test is for rubella (German measles) immunity. Why? Because if you get German measles while pregnant, your baby will surely suffer from birth defects (such as blindness or deafness). If the woman can prove sterility (with hospital records of a hysterectomy or tubal ligation) she does not have to have the blood test. The weird part of this is that if you AREN’T immune to German measles, they don’t make you get an other vaccination before getting married. Good idea - poorly executed.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634/2 "2003-01-24T17:10:23Z")

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Ah, Indiana. I visited there, once. 😃

And the column being referenced is, [What is the purpose of premarital blood testing?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_193.html)

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**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634/3 "2003-01-24T17:29:57Z")

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Thank you for adding the link. (I didn’t know any better.)

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-state-indiana-requires-pre-marital-blood-testing/150634/4 "2003-01-25T08:06:02Z")

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Not a problem. Welcome to the boards! 🙂