CHAPTER 230

An Act concerning testing for syphilis, amending P.L.1938, c.41 and repealing P.L.1938, c.126.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1938, c.41 (C.26:4-49.1) is amended to read as follows:

C.26:4-49.1 Blood sample, syphilis testing for pregnant women.

    1.    Every physician attending pregnant women in the State for conditions relating to their pregnancy during the period of gestation and/or at delivery shall, in the case of every woman so attended, take or cause to be taken a sample of blood of such woman at the time of first examination and take or cause to be taken a sample of blood of the woman or from the umbilical cord of the infant at the time of delivery of a live infant, and shall submit such sample to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis. Every other person permitted by law to attend pregnant women in the State, but not permitted by law to take blood samples, shall cause a sample of blood of such pregnant women or postpartum woman or infant, as the case may be, to be taken by a physician duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery and have such sample submitted to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis.

    2. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.41 (C.26:4-49.3) is amended to read as follows:

C.26:4-49.3 Statement of blood test in birth or stillbirth report.

    3.    In reporting every birth and stillbirth, physicians and others required to make such reports shall state on the certificate whether a blood test for syphilis has been made upon a specimen of blood taken from the woman who bore the child or from the umbilical cord of the infant for which a birth or stillbirth certificate is filed and the date when the specimen was taken.

Repealer.

    3. The following is repealed:

    P.L.1938, c.126 (C.37:1-20 to C.37:1-26).

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

    Approved August 25, 1997.