AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to pregnancy serological testing.
Summary
HB0188 revises Tennessee’s requirements for blood testing during pregnancy. The bill requires a blood sample to be taken from each pregnant woman at the first prenatal examination or within 10 days of that visit for testing for rubella immunity and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). It also requires a second hepatitis B test during or after the 28th week of gestation for women the attending physician determines to be at high risk, and it clarifies that hepatitis B testing must occur during an early prenatal visit in each pregnancy.
The bill also expands and restates the existing syphilis testing schedule. Pregnant women must be tested for syphilis at the first examination, again between the 27th and 33rd week of gestation, and at delivery. Positive results for hepatitis B or syphilis must be reported to the local health department under existing communicable disease reporting rules. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to physicians, surgeons, and other persons permitted to attend pregnant women, as well as those who must arrange for blood draws through another licensed provider.
Impact
HB0188 amends Tennessee Code Annotated provisions in Title 68 governing pregnancy-related serological testing and communicable disease reporting. It adds hepatitis B surface antigen to the list of required prenatal tests, reinforces repeat testing for high-risk pregnancies, and updates the statutory testing schedule for syphilis. The bill affects prenatal care providers, laboratories approved by the Department of Health, and local health departments that receive positive test reports.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a routine public-health update rather than a controversial proposal. Its focus is on standardizing prenatal screening and reporting requirements to protect maternal and infant health. No opposing viewpoints are documented in the available record.
Contention
No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so no specific points of contention can be identified from the record. Potential areas of discussion, if any, would likely involve the added testing burden on prenatal providers, laboratory compliance, and the scope of repeat hepatitis B testing for high-risk patients. However, the available materials do not show any expressed opposition or amendment disputes.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to women's health.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to women's health.