HIV testing for pregnant women, newborns advances in NJ

Tom Hester, Jr., reports for the Associated Press:

New Jersey moved Thursday toward becoming the first state to require both pregnant women and some newborns to be tested for HIV, despite opposition from groups who say doing so violates a woman's civil rights.

The bill would require all pregnant women be tested for HIV twice, once early in the pregnancy and a second time in the third trimester, unless the mother asks not to be tested.

It would require newborns to be tested if either the mother has tested positive or her HIV status is unknown at time of birth.