What Prenatal Tests Are Actually Required vs. Optional in California?

Prenatal testing conversations can feel overwhelming fast, partly because “required” and “offered” get blurred together. In California, very few prenatal tests are actually mandatory - most are recommended screenings you have the right to accept or decline after being informed about what they involve.

What California Actually Requires

California does not legally mandate most prenatal testing. The exceptions relate to newborn screening after birth, which is required by the state, and certain reporting requirements for providers - not a checklist of tests every pregnant person must undergo.

Commonly Offered, Not Required

• First and second trimester genetic screening (e.g. NIPT, quad screen)
• Anatomy ultrasound
• Glucose screening for gestational diabetes
• Group B Strep (GBS) testing near the end of pregnancy
• STI screening panels

Each of these is offered because it provides useful information for many pregnancies - but each is also something you can discuss, question, and decide on with your provider, not something imposed without your input.

Informed Consent Is the Real Standard

The relevant legal and ethical standard isn't which tests are required - it's informed consent: understanding what a test looks for, what a positive or negative result would mean, and what your options are before you agree to it. A good provider walks through this for every screening, not just the ones they recommend.

How This Works With Midwifery Care

Midwifery-led prenatal care builds time into visits specifically for this kind of conversation, so decisions about testing are made with real understanding rather than under time pressure.